TREASURY

Accounting Officers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1 June he has been informed of a Minister issuing a direction to an accounting officer as set out in paragraphs 14 to 17 of the Treasury document, The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer; on which grounds the note of dissent was issued; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury has not been informed of any directions issued by Ministers to Accounting Officers under this guidance since the reply given to the hon. Member by my predecessor on 8 July 2004, Official Report, column 810W.

Cricket

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 16W, on the International Cricket Conference Headquarters, from which International Sports Federations he has received representations on taxation issues affecting their proposed headquarter locations.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The Government have received a representation from the UK Sports Council. The Government welcome any further representations there may be on taxation issues.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act.

Stephen Timms: In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at The National Archives (TNA) will continue to take place in HM Treasury under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Department will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: Records are appraised 29 years after the oldest paper on the file. In accordance with The National Archives' guidance, the Treasury has destroyed the following number of files in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 File year Destroy 
		
		
			 1970 1,615 
			 1971 1,609 
			 1972 1,962 
			 1973 1,650 
			 1974 (1)1,747 
		
	
	(1) Provisional.

Entertainment Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on entertainment by his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 12 May 2004, Official Report, column 355W. Expenditure on official entertainment for 2003–04 was £116,000. Further analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list activities in which his Department has been involved to promote the benefits of the Government's policy towards the European Union; what the costs were; what partner organisations were involved; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government work with a wide range of partners to develop and communicate their policy towards the European Union, including the CBI, Chambers of Commerce, trade unions and more, including other EU member states and EU institutions. Costs of these activities are covered from departmental budgets, as set out in annual departmental reports.

GDP (Pendle)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the per capita GDP was for the Pendle local authority area in each year since 1995.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 15 December 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about GDP per capita for Pendle local authority. (205007)
	Pendle local authority is in Lancashire County Council (NUTS3 area), which is currently the lowest geographic level at which GVA per capita is published. The latest published information is for 2001.
	The estimates in table A are based on the regional Gross Value Added 1 (GVA) estimates published in December 2003. These are available on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=10904&More=n
	
		Table A
		
			  Gross value added (GVA)(2) per head for Lancashire County Council (NUTS3 area) at current basic prices 1995 to 2001 
		
		
			 1995 9,791 
			 1996 10,141 
			 1997 10,527 
			 1998 10,996 
			 1999 11,496 
			 2000 12,034 
			 2001 12,534 
		
	
	(2) Information presented here is Gross Value Added (GVA) which is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.

Industrial Redundancies

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many redundancies per 1,000 workers are estimated from the Labour Force Survey to have been experienced in each industrial sector since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 15 December 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about redundancy.
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of redundancies experienced by survey respondents in the three month period before their survey interviews.
	The table overleaf shows the rates of redundancies per 1,000 employees in each industrial sector of the UK in each three month period since 1997. The data are up-dated quarterly in the "Jobleavers and redundancies" section of the ONS website.
	The estimates for the LFS are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		Redundancies rates—United Kingdom—not seasonally adjusted Rates per 1,000 employees(3)
		
			 3 months ending Agriculture, fishing, energy and water (A-C, E) Manufacturing (D) Construction (F) Distribution, hotels and restaurants (G, H) 
		
		
			 May 1997 11.0 10.8 20.5 7.5 
			 August 1997 10.9 10.4 17.1 6.6 
			 November 1997 6.8 8.8 16.8 5.7 
			 February 1998 15.5 10.7 12.8 9.2 
			 May 1998 13.3 12.1 9.3 7.1 
			 August 1998 11.4 12.1 16.7 7.4 
			 November 1998 11.4 14.0 15.0 5.4 
			 February 1999 14.1 16.6 23.8 7.9 
			 May 1999 12.1 16.3 20.2 5.8 
			 August 1999 14.6 14.1 15.5 7.3 
			 November 1999 10.3 10.6 13.0 6.7 
			 February 2000 13.3 14.7 16.2 8.2 
			 May 2000 11.9 16.2 11.5 7.5 
			 August 2000 7.4 11.1 14.3 7.6 
			 November 2000 8.9 11.7 11.0 7.2 
			 February 2001 15.6 14.1 10.9 6.3 
			 May 2001 8.6 13.2 11.9 7.2 
			 August 2001 5.4 16.1 8.3 6.1 
			 November 2001 7.1 16.3 10.9 5.8 
			 February 2002 7.1 16.5 15.8 6.8 
			 May 2002 10.1 16.9 10.0 6.1 
			 August 2002 11.1 14.6 10.7 5.5 
			 November 2002 15.5 11.9 10.3 6.6 
			 February 2003 9.3 16.1 12.2 5.6 
			 May 2003 8.1 13.7 12.7 5.9 
			 August 2003 5.9 14.7 9.2 5.0 
			 November 2003 5.4 11.4 11.6 6.0 
			 February 2004 9.4 11.1 12.7 5.4 
			 May 2004 9.7 12.1 9.4 5.0 
			 August 2004 4.0 12.1 9.4 5.2 
		
	
	
		
			 3 months ending Transport and communications (I) Banking, finance and insurance (J-K) Public administration, education and Health (L-N) Total services (G-Q) 
		
		
			 May 1997 9.0 6.6 2.8 5.5 
			 August 1997 5.0 7.7 2.7 5.2 
			 November 1997 7.8 6.0 2.1 4.5 
			 February 1998 5.8 7.2 1.6 5.6 
			 May 1998 9.1 7.5 1.9 5.6 
			 August 1998 7.7 5.6 2.2 4.9 
			 November 1998 8.1 8.4 2.4 5.0 
			 February 1999 7.5 8.1 1.4 5.5 
			 May 1999 8.7 7.2 1.5 4.7 
			 August 1999 6.1 5.3 1.7 4.5 
			 November 1999 6.9 9.1 2.4 5.5 
			 February 2000 6.0 8.5 1.3 5.5 
			 May 2000 8.1 7.0 1.0 4.8 
			 August 2000 6.8 7.5 1.2 4.7 
			 November 2000 8.8 6.7 1.9 5.1 
			 February 2001 7.0 6.8 1.4 4.5 
			 May 2001 7.2 7.4 1.4 5.0 
			 August 2001 9.5 9.5 1.3 5.2 
			 November 2001 6.0 11.5 1.8 5.5 
			 February 2002 13.4 10.4 1.6 6.3 
			 May 2002 14.4 9.5 1.6 5.9 
			 August 2002 9.3 8.7 1.9 5.1 
			 November 2002 9.6 8.4 1.5 5.2 
			 February 2003 8.5 10.8 1.2 5.2 
			 May 2003 6.4 7.7 1.3 4.4 
			 August 2003 7.8 8.5 1.4 4.4 
			 November 2003 6.1 7.9 1.7 4.6 
			 February 2004 6.5 7.0 0.9 4.0 
			 May 2004 8.4 7.3 1.0 4.3 
			 August 2004 8.0 6.8 1.5 4.1 
		
	
	(3) The redundancy rate is based on the ratio of the redundancy level for the given quarter to the number of employees in the previous quarter, multiplied by 1,000
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Inland Revenue and Customs

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the topics are of the group litigation orders brought against the Inland Revenue and Customs which were resolved in the last 12 months; how many litigants participated in each group; what the name was of each corporate litigant; and whether each was registered (a) in the UK and (b) in another jurisdiction.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue is dealing with six categories of company group litigation order as follows:
	Franked Investment Income—13 claimant groups
	Foreign Income Dividends—20 claimant groups
	Thin Capitalisation—15 claimant groups
	Controlled Foreign Companies—24 claimant groups
	Loss Relief Group Litigation—74 claimant groups
	Advance Corporation Tax—around 750 claimant groups
	To the extent that litigants' names are in the public domain, they can be obtained from the High Court, where they are not in the public domain it would be inappropriate to disclose them.
	Approximately 50 of the companies concerned are not resident in the UK; 24 cases were settled finally in 2004.
	HM Customs and Excise have not received any group litigation orders.

Inland Revenue (Overpayments)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests have been made to the Inland Revenue Overpayments Dispute Team by claimants of tax credit for waiver of recovery due to (a) official error and (b) hardship; and how many such requests were accepted.

Dawn Primarolo: By the end of November about 67,000 taxpayers had returned Form TC846, or had otherwise been recorded as requesting the write-off of their overpayments on grounds of official error. In total about 1,100 families had their overpayments written off by the end of November for that reason. To date the Inland Revenue has had to consider very few requests for overpayments to be written off on ground of inability to pay.

Inland Revenue (Overpayments)

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
	(1)  what the average time is from the receipt of a completed TC846 form, for a decision to be made by the Inland Revenue on an appeal against its decision to recover tax credit overpayments;
	(2)  how many completed TC846 forms have been received by the Inland Revenue requesting a reconsideration of its decision to recover tax credits for (a) the 2003–04 tax year and (b) the current tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 7 December 2004
	For the number of forms received, I refer my right hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar) today.
	Information on the average time taken to deal with these requests is not available.

International Finance Facility

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will outline the positions taken by each of the G8 member countries in respect of the International Finance Facility.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 7 December 2004, Official Report, column 442W.

Landfill

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much landfill tax has been paid by operators on (a) in-house and (b) merchant landfill sites in each year since 1997.

John Healey: Landfill tax receipts are routinely published by HM Customs and Excise at www.uktradeinfo.com in the Landfill Tax Bulletin.
	Separate data on landfill tax paid by operators on (a) in-house and (b) merchant landfill sites are not available.

MRSA

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have died of MRSA in care homes, as a proportion of total MRSA deaths, in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Brian Cotter, dated 15 December 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died of MRSA in care homes, as a proportion of total MRSA deaths in each of the last five years. (204586)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2002. Figures on deaths in care homes in England and Wales for the years 1998 to 2002, where MRSA was mentioned anywhere on death certificate, are given in the table.
	
		Deaths in care homes(4)where MRSA was a contributory factor(5), in care homes, England and Wales, 1998–2002(6)
		
			   Number Percentage of all MRSA deaths 
		
		
			 1998 42 10.2 
			 1999 38 7.8 
			 2000 51 7.6 
			 2001 53 7.2 
			 2002 53 6.6 
		
	
	(4) Care homes were defined as NHS and non-NHS nursing homes, local authority residential homes and private residential homes
	(5) Identified using the methodology described in Griffiths C, Lamagni TL, Crowcroft NS, Duckworth G and Rooney C (2004) Trends in MRSA in England and Wales: analysis of morbidity and mortality data for 1993–2002. Health Statistics Quarterly 21, 15–22,
	(6) Figures are for deaths occurring in 1998 to 2002.

Office for National Statistics

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account the Office for National Statistics intends to take of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 15 December 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what account the Office for National Statistics (ONS) intends to take of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards. (204415)
	ONS has been addressing the issue of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) through its membership of Eurostat's Taskforce on Accounting and Statistics since 2001, and has been considering the possible effects of the introduction of JFRS on UK statistical data through business contacts since 2003.
	In 2004, ONS established a taskforce, to address the statistical implications of IFRS. The objectives of this taskforce include establishing the potential incidence and significance of any statistical discontinuities arising from the introduction of IFRS. The taskforce established a three-stage action plan for addressing the issue, involving initial direct contacts with significant data contributors, a survey of a broad range of 500 data contributors (early in 2005) and subsequent amendments, as appropriate, to data collections in respect of 2005 onwards.
	Despite the proximity of the introduction of IFRS for EU listed businesses, little conclusive information has yet been available about the specific impacts of IFRS on business statistics. Of those businesses contacted to date by ONS, very few have yet been willing or in a position to comment on the effects of IFRS. Very recent contacts have indicated that businesses are beginning to address the IFRS issue with some urgency and it is hoped that much more specific information will be obtained from the survey in early 2005.
	In. addition, ONS is planning for contingencies including any further special surveys necessary later in 2005, any changes to regular business surveys and the handling of any discontinuities in key surveys. As more specific information becomes available, ONS will keep key stakeholders informed.

ISA Savings

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outstanding stock of (a) cash ISAs, (b) insurance ISAs and (c) equity ISAs was on 31 March (i) 2001, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2003 and (iv) 2004; and what the net change in stock was for the years (A) 2002, (B) 2003 and (C) 2004.

Stephen Timms: Figures of outstanding stocks of cash, insurance and equity ISAs are available in table 9.6 of Inland Revenue Statistics published on the Inland Revenue website; http://newinternet.inrev.gov.uk/stats/isa/table9_6_september04.pdf

Staff Gyms

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many gyms are available to staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Inland Revenue (incorporating the Valuation Office Agency) and HM Customs and Excise have a total of 75 gyms available to staff, of which one is a shared facility with HM Treasury.
	Identifying the costs of providing the IR and C&E facilities would incur disproportionate costs. Members' subscriptions to the various civil service sports associations help to fund equipment for use in these facilities.
	Management and equipment costs of the shared facility at 1 Horse Guards Road in Westminster are met from membership subscriptions.

Tax Credits

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of working tax credit have been credited for underpayments in the last 12 months and subsequently told that the underpayment recalculations were wrong.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 14 October 2004, Official Report, column 347W.

Third World Debt

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has made to (a) G8 and (b) Paris Club Nations on following the UK's lead in paying 10 per cent. of the debt service owed by highly indebted poor countries to the World Bank and African Development Bank;
	(2)  whether the UK will pay debt service on behalf of the world's poorest countries to the International Monetary Fund; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations he has made to (a) the International Monetary Fund, (b) the World Bank and (c) regional development banks to (i) cancel debt owed to them by the world's poorest countries and (ii) revalue gold reserves to finance cancellation.

Stephen Timms: The UK is proposing that the international community—including the G8, Paris Club and the EU—provide up to 100 per cent. relief on the debt owed by poor countries to the World Bank and African Development Bank. In order to avoid reducing aid elsewhere, or running down the resources of the international institutions, this should be funded through new commitments from all donors.
	The UK is leading the way by paying its share of debt payments owed to the World Bank and African Development Bank, not just for HIPC countries but for all low income countries, as long as they can ensure debt relief is used for poverty reduction.
	The UK will continue to call for the relief on debts owed to the IMF to be funded through more efficient use of IMF gold reserves.

University Donations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the total cost in a year to the Exchequer of tax reliefs provided on donations to universities.

John Healey: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Universities, along with other charities that are registered with the Inland Revenue, are able to reclaim gift aid on qualifying donations. The amount the charity reclaims is equivalent to approximately 28 per cent. of the value of the donation.
	It is not possible to ascertain the amount repaid in gift aid in relation to universities, because Inland Revenue records do not distinguish amounts repaid to charities according to type of charity. The available information relates to all charities and is published in Table 10.2 of Inland Revenue statistics at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm.

TRANSPORT

Blue Badge Parking Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the report from the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Team on the Blue Badge Parking Scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to reform the Blue Badge Parking Scheme to ensure that (a) local authorities are more circumspect in issuing Blue Badges and (b) there are sufficient disabled parking spaces to accommodate Blue Badge parking holders;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to prevent abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with local authorities regarding (a) reform of and (b) abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme;
	(5)  what plans he has to ensure greater security of the Blue Badge Scheme.

Charlotte Atkins: The information requested is as follows:
	Review of the Blue Badge Scheme
	Careful and detailed consideration was given to the report and each of the recommendations made by the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) following the review of the scheme. We accepted the majority of their 47 recommendations.
	Work is in hand to take forward the recommendations. Changes need to be made to primary and secondary legislation, further research needs to be carried out and revised guidance issued to local authorities. On the latter, we will be issuing new guidance to local authorities on all aspects of the scheme, including assessment of applications to encourage consistency in the issue of badges.
	We have already secured the necessary slots for the primary legislation. We intend to consult on changes to the regulations and draft guidance by spring 2005.
	Abuse
	Theft of blue badges and abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme is of concern to the Department. Measures exist to tackle abuse as follows:
	it an offence under Section 117 of The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the badge itself to be misused by a non-disabled person, the maximum fine on conviction being £1,000;
	local authorities have powers to withdraw a badge if the holder constantly misuses it or allows it to be misused by others;
	it is an offence under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to park a vehicle which is not displaying a badge in a designated disabled persons' parking bay.
	We are also taking forward a number of additional enforcement measures following the review. These include an important power for the police, traffic wardens and local authority parking enforcement officers to inspect badges to check details and the photograph of the badge holder. We have already made provision for this in the Traffic Management Act 2004 and we aim to bring that power into effect by commencement order in the spring next year. This will allow time to produce and consult on the guidance that will be needed by those who will be exercising the new power. We are also looking at the feasibility of establishing a national database of badge holders; the introduction of smartcard technology; increasing penalties for abuse and misuse of the scheme and re-introducing a hologram onto the blue badge as an additional security measure.
	Interaction with local authorities
	Local authorities were involved throughout the review process and were able to feed in their views and make representations to the Department on all aspects of the scheme. In taking forward the remaining recommendations we will continue to involve and consult local authorities.
	Provision of disabled person parking spaces
	The provision of parking spaces is a matter for local authorities. They have a wide range of powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to provide parking places, including designated bays for disabled people. The decision to provide such bays is ultimately for the local authority.

Bus and Cycle Lanes

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many miles of new cycle lanes have been provided using public funds since 1997, broken down by local authority;
	(2)  how many and what length of (a) bus lanes and (b) cycle lanes have been designated on roads in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Charlotte Atkins: Information on bus and cycle lanes in England for the financial years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 is set out in the tables which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. A full set of data for the years required are not available.
	The information is provided by local authorities on an annual basis as part of their Annual Performance report on the Local Transport Plans. It is not verified by the Department. Responsibility for the accuracy of the data rests with individual authorities. The data are incomplete and include estimates.
	A breakdown of cycle lanes by London borough is not available. TfL estimates that there are approximately 300 km of on-road cycle lanes.

Departmental Estate

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years.

Charlotte Atkins: The DfT units or associated bodies that currently have responsibility for vacant property are as follows.
	The Highways Agency holds property in relation to the Government's Targeted Programme of Investment (TPI) in the strategic road network but the assets change year-on-year as the requirements of the TPI dictate. Properties identified as empty were either surplus property for sale, empty property awaiting refurbishment/letting and/or empty property awaiting demolition for road schemes or empty beyond economic repair. The annual cost of these properties in 2002–03 and 2003–04 were £545,000 and £582,000 respectively. These costs included utility costs, security, management fees and the annual repair costs to bring the properties into a lettable or saleable condition. The value of the properties was £7.159 million in 2002–03 and £17.821 million in 2003–04.
	The Driving Standards Agency has only one empty property, which is valued at £320,000 and has running costs of approximately £3,000 per annum.
	The General Lighthouse Authorities comprising the Trinity Lighthouse Service and Northern Lighthouse Board spent £18,000 in 2002–03 and £13,000 in 2003–04 on empty properties. The properties are mainly former lighthouse keepers' living accommodation and have not been valued. The properties have been retained because it is not possible to effectively separate the properties whilst maintaining the security of the operational lighthouses or it is difficult to sell or lease the properties due to their remote locations.
	The British Railways Board (Residuary) Ltd. (BRBR) are a wholly owned subsidiary of the Strategic Rail Authority and is responsible for managing the majority of the remaining property, rights and liabilities of the British Railways Board. BRBR own a number property with values of £137.1 million at the end of 2002–03 and £132.5 million as at the end of 2003–04. BRBR are unable to provide the value of the empty properties as their records are not kept in this way and some sites are part rented which makes it particularly difficult to determine the value. The cost of managing freehold vacant office space was £689,000 in 2002–03 and £583,000 in 2003–04.
	The Department has acquired properties adjacent to the route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link which have become empty because of the impact of construction work. These are generally sold on the open market as soon as construction is complete but to obtain the value of these would involve disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last two years.

Charlotte Atkins: The energy costs recorded by the Department over 2003–03 and 2003–04 are as follows.
	
		£
		
			  Electricity Gas Oil Total 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 GMH 276,995 305,312 18,925 21,798 0 0 295,920 327,110 
			 AAIB 9,300 8,900 0 0 9,500 8,800 18,800 17,700 
			 MAIB 3,606 5,132 506 730 0 0 4,112 5,862 
			 DSA 210,678 196,735 0 60,419 0 0 210,678 257,154 
			 DVLA 560,399 557,518 120,693 129,053 0 0 681,092 686,571 
			 HA 172,006 174,428 36,959 36,721 2,925 1,942 211,890 213,091 
			 MCA 380,050 377,329 68,006 73,991 0 0 448,056 451,320 
			 VGA 11,698 6,848 1,321 1,628 4,654 5,175 17,673 13,651 
			 VOSA 301,027 417,660 76,509 147,659 0 22,302 377,536 587,621 
			 Total 1,925,759 2,049,862 322,918 471,999 17,079 38,219 2,265,757 2,560,080 
		
	
	Overall the increase in costs is 13 per cent. although the figures for costs alone can be misleading if not placed within the wider context of changes in unit price, areas measured, levels of consumption and improved record keeping. The DfT estate comprises some 1,170 properties of varying size, use and nature of occupation and it is therefore not possible to make any comprehensive or definitive statements about energy cost increases on such a diverse estate, which may be attributable to these and other factors.
	Increases and decreases in unit charges and area occupied can also mask efforts to improve energy efficiency so a better measure of performance is consumption where the overall usage was down 2.2 per cent. over the same period. For more details on consumption I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 20 October 2004 to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green), Official Report, columns 687–88W.
	The Department will continue to aim to reduce energy consumption and meet other energy targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development in the Government Estate.

E-mail

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce an automatic e-mail notification facility for all announcements and publications issued by his Department and those public bodies reporting to him.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport does not currently offer an automatic e-mail notification facility from its website (www.dft.gov.uk). We have plans to make one available by the middle of 2005.
	The News Distribution Service (NDS) issues all news releases on behalf of the Department, and posts them on the GNN website for universal reference. Any bona fide media practitioner can opt to have these announcements sent to them by e-mail, or by a variety of alternative distribution mechanisms.
	The Department contributes to info41ocal, the cross-departmental portal website for local authorities, which offers an e-mail alert service.
	Public bodies are responsible for their own announcements and publications. This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Leigh-Manchester Busway

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reach a final decision on the planning inquiry and subsequent work on the Leigh to Manchester guided busway.

David Jamieson: holding answer 14 December 2004
	Following a public inquiry into this scheme under the Transport and Works Act 1992, the Department asked the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) to provide additional environmental information. GMPTE provided this further material in October 2004 and gave an opportunity for interested parties to make representations to the Department by 2 December. We have now asked GMPTE for their comments on the six representations received. When we receive their response we will consider whether we should re-open the public inquiry or deal with the new issues by means of written exchanges. It is therefore too early to say when we will be in a position to decide the application.

Ministerial Visits

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) he and (b) other Ministers from his Department have visited Switzerland; and what plans he has for future visits by Ministers from his Department.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. Since that date no Ministers from the Department have undertaken a departmental visit to Switzerland and none is currently planned.

Motorway Driving Tests

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a requirement for learner drivers prior to taking their driving tests, to take theoretical instruction on driving on motorways, dependent on the area in which the driving test is to be taken.

David Jamieson: There is no evidence to suggest that newly qualified drivers are generally more dangerous than other drivers on motorways. We therefore have no plans at present to lift the current restriction on learner drivers using motorways. However, the theory test, including the hazard perception test, covers driving on motorways and other high speed roads, so learners are expected to acquire the appropriate theoretical knowledge. The Highway Code and the Driving Standards Agency's Driving Manual provide theoretical instruction to support this.
	Learner drivers are also expected to gain experience on high-speed roads other than motorways before attempting the practical test and are expected to demonstrate their skills on such roads where practicable.
	Newly qualified drivers may also take the Pass Plus course of training which includes motorway driving with an Approved Driving Instructor. The scheme is taken up by some 20 per cent. of pupils who pass their test.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agency Staff

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by (a) Forest Enterprise, (b) the Meat Hygiene Service, (c) the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and (d) the Sustainable Development Commission; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the future of each body.

Alun Michael: The Forest Enterprise is an Executive agency of the Forestry Commission which has supplied the following information. The Forestry Enterprise employs 750 full time equivalents in England and its net operating costs were £22.7 million.
	The Meat Hygiene Service is an Executive agency of the Food Standards Agency and ministerial responsibility lies with the Department for Health.
	The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and the Sustainable Development Commission are advisory NDPBs and the running costs for each are included with Defra's accounts but are not separately identifiable. The total sponsorship and/or funding cost to the Department (which would include remuneration and expenses of members, administrative costs, research/programme funding and any other cost to the department directly related to the sponsorship of the body) for the last financial year is given as follows. The figures do not include funding given for specific additional projects that have been undertaken during the period.
	
		
			 Body Staff employed Expenditure/funding by Defra (£) 
		
		
			 Sustainable Development Commission 0 679,000 
			 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 12 956,000 
		
	
	We keep these bodies under review, in accordance with Government guidelines, to ensure that its functions are still required and that the they still provide the most effective means of carrying out those functions.

Agency Staff

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the membership is of the British Waterways Board; what the (a) cost of salaries and expenses to members and (b) running costs was of the board in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff are employed to service the board.

Alun Michael: Membership of the British Waterways Board is set out in its annual report and accounts which are laid before Parliament each year. In 2003–04, the board consisted of a chairman, vice-chairman and nine members. The cost of salaries and expenses was £208,000 and running costs £22,000. The board has no dedicated staff.

Cockling

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on plans to introduce a licensing system for cockling (a) in Morecambe Bay and (b) elsewhere;
	(2)  what assistance her Department is offering to Cumbria police in their efforts to regulate the cockling in Morecambe Bay;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the tonnage of immature cockles removed from Morecambe Bay in the past 12 months; and what assessment she has made of (a) the ecological and economic consequences of overfishing of cockles in Morecambe Bay and (b) trends in the (i) number and (ii) point of origin of cocklers operating in Morecambe Bay.

Ben Bradshaw: Management of local inshore fisheries is the responsibility of Sea Fisheries Committees.
	North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (NWNWSFC) is responsible for managing the cockle fishery in Morecambe Bay, and runs a permit scheme for one of the cockle beds within Morecambe Bay. NWNWSFC are currently considering extending this scheme to cover the whole of their district, and the Government are currently considering how we can best support this proposal.
	NWNWSFC are responsible for enforcing their own byelaws. There have been a number of joint enforcement exercises planned and executed with, among others, the local police, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Inland Revenue, and Immigration Service.
	Fishing is inherently dangerous. On Morecambe Bay the problem is mainly one of ensuring people in control of commercial cockling have proper regard for their own health and safety and that of their workers, taking account of the Bay's tidal conditions and characteristics. The HSE has drawn up and issued safety guidelines to those involved in the fishery. These provide the basis for inspections on the Bay, and at other tidal areas and estuaries around the British coastline. Since the unfortunate tragedy in February the most relevant local organisations have come together in the "Morecambe Bay Intertidal Shellfisheries Joint Liaison Group" to improve the management of cockling activity on the Bay through exchange of intelligence, and co-ordinated enforcement activity.
	NWNWSFC monitor cockle stocks in Morecambe Bay and have powers to introduce appropriate management measures should they consider the pattern of exploitation warrants it.
	The Morecambe Bay Intertidal Shellfisheries Joint Liaison Group regularly reviews the activities of cocklers in Morecambe Bay and is aware of the numbers involved and, in many cases, their national origin.

Commercial Whaling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will outline the Government's policy towards commercial whaling; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 December 2004
	The Government are opposed to all forms of whaling other than limited whaling by indigenous people to meet objectively defined subsistence needs. We strongly support the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling and believe that properly regulated whale-watching is the only truly sustainable use of whale resources.

Commercial Whaling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representation was made by the Government to the International Whaling Commission meeting in Borgholm, Sweden, in November this year; what discussions took place; what conclusions were reached by the delegates of the meeting; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 December 2004
	The UK delegation at the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) Working Group meeting was led by Richard Cowan CBE, the UK Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The meeting discussed the possible content of an RMS, the corpus of regulatory measures required to control commercial whaling should such whaling ever be resumed. The aim of the Working Group was to draw up instructions for a Small Drafting Group (SDG) on which the UK was also represented, to draw up draft RMS text for possible adoption into the Schedule to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling at the next annual meeting of the IWC in Ulsan, South Korea, in June 2005.
	The UK is seeking a comprehensive RMS, which would ensure that any future approved commercial whaling could not pose a threat to whale conservation and that catch limits and other rules would be strictly observed and seen to be so. No definitive conclusions were reached on any of the key elements of the RMS. Such text as the SDG was able to prepare therefore contains variants in square brackets reflecting the differing points of view of participants.
	Some issues of a largely technical nature were referred to specialist groups, which will conduct business by correspondence and report back to the next Working Group meeting in Copenhagen in March 2005.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last two years.

Alun Michael: The estimate of the cost to the Department of ministerial cars and drivers in each of the last two years is £399,684.01 in the financial year to April 2004 and £369,855.17 in the financial year to April 2003. We do not hold information on travel by taxi centrally and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Telephones

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the use of telephones in her Department by members of staff for their personal use relating to (a) domestic calls and (b) international calls; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Department does not object to the reasonable use of telephones for personal use as part of its objective to achieve a fair work/life balance for its staff. Line managers have a responsibility to monitor usage. Domestic calls are permitted but the majority of international calls are barred on all but those extensions needing access for official purposes. Call logging is used if abuse is suspected.

Departmental Telephones

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has taken to ensure the telephones in her Department are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers.

Alun Michael: Extensions have international call barring. The only exceptions are where there are essential operational needs for such access. Call logging is used if abuse is suspected.

Departmental Telephones

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated cost to her Department of unauthorised personal calls made by members of staff to (a) domestic numbers and (b) international numbers was in the last year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The Department permits reasonable telephone access for staff to make personal calls to domestic numbers. Where there is a managed telecommunications service, call charges are for the most part absorbed into a fixed extension cost. In cases where telecommunications services are owned by the Department, call charges are incurred for domestic calls, although without intensive call logging it is impossible to differentiate between personal and business calls. The majority of extensions have international call barring unless such access is an operational necessity.

Emissions

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken in the last 12 months to investigate the potential use of continuous sampling technology for the monitoring of emissions from waste incinerators for dioxin levels.

Elliot Morley: I understand that the Environment Agency has finished field tests of continuous dioxin sampling and analysis equipment. Reports on the field tests are still being written and will be available early next year. The Environment Agency will consider the regulatory implications of the conclusions of the reports when they are published.

Environmental Offences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions resulted in (a) convictions and (b) custodial sentences in each year since 1999 for offences related to (i) water resources, (ii) flood defences, (iii) fisheries, (iv) navigation, (v) process industry regulation, (vi) radioactive substances, (vii) waste and (viii) water quality as recorded in the National Enforcement Database; and what the average fines were where custodial sentences were awarded (A) in total and (B) broken down by region.

Alun Michael: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		Environment agency: successful prosecutions and custodial sentences, calendar years 1999 to 2004 -- Date of report: 29 November 2004
		
			  Total convictions/custodial sentences 
			  (7)1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Fisheries 0 0 27 0 22 0 
			 Flood defence 2 0 1 0 2 0 
			 Navigation 3 0 6 0 3 0 
			 PIR 6 0 12 0 7 0 
			 RAS 3 0 3 0 11 0 
			 Water quality 177 0 219 0 234 0 
			 Water resources 6 0 21 0 10 0 
			 Waste 246 3 408 5 471 10 
		
	
	
		
			  Total convictions/custodial sentences 
			  2002 2003 (8)2004 
		
		
			 Fisheries 48 0 34 0 28 0 
			 Flood defence 1 0 5 0 9 0 
			 Navigation 15 0 32 0 20 0 
			 PIR 3 0 5 0 1 0 
			 RAS 1 0 3 0 2 0 
			 Water quality 220 0 167 0 154 1 
			 Water resources 11 0 6 0 15 0 
			 Waste 498 4 406 7 374 7 
		
	
	(7) April to December.
	(8) January to October.

Environmental Pollution Royal Commission

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has allocated to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in each of the last 10 years; what plans she has for future levels of funding for the organisation; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Over the last 10 years, the Department has allocated funding as provided in the table below:
	
		£000
		
			 Financial year Allocation Expenditure 
		
		
			 1995–96 726 742 
			 1996–97 729 732 
			 1997–98 788 773 
			 1998–99 769 778 
			 1999–2000 819 835 
			 2000–01 785 784 
			 2001–02 1,046 1,032 
			 2002–03 999 970 
			 2003–04 967 958 
			 2004–05 979 1,010 
		
	
	Currently there are no plans to change the funding level of the RCEP.

Environmental Regulation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department takes to make sure that the cost and rigour of environmental regulation in the UK compares favourably with that of current and prospective members of the European Union.

Elliot Morley: All Defra's policies are developed using impact assessments that consider the economic, social and environmental effects of different policy options. The majority of UK environment legislation comes from the EU and, to ensure the quality of legislation, Defra must work effectively with our EU partners and the European institutions to shape policy. Defra has an excellent international reputation for usefully influencing EU legislation. Notable recent successes in the EU include bringing about changes to the REACH chemical proposal to reduce its burden on business.
	Defra's internal organisation promotes detailed scrutiny of policy proposals during their development. Economists form part of policy teams in advising both on costs and benefits and on the best ways to achieve policy goals. In April 2004, Defra's Better Regulation Unit (BRU) was enlarged to promote the Better Regulation agenda. It plays a role in scrutinising policy and in advising policy teams on aspects of policy making. The BRU are also undertaking studies into red tape and the cumulative burden on business of the whole stock of Defra regulations. Here, as in many other areas of Defra's work, Defra benefits from close contact and comparison with other EU member states. A recent example is the work done in the BRU to reduce red tape and administrative burdens on business, building on a Dutch methodology. One of the nine principles of policy making promoted in Defra is the need to be outward looking—to draw on experience in other countries and regions.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total external spending by her Department was on public private partnership (PPP) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: From information held centrally, there has been no external spending by the Department on public private partnership (PPP) consultants in each of the last two years to date.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total external spending by her Department was on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants in each of the past two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: From information held centrally, and for the last two years to date, the Department has spent a total of £415,593 on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants. For 2003–04 the expenditure was £80,000 and for 2004–05 to date the expenditure is £335,593. Information on how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over the two-year period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; and what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	As part of its preparations for, and implementation of, the Gershon Value for money agenda in Defra, Pareto or detailed expenditure distribution analysis of departmental expenditure on professional services is now being undertaken, and will be made available publicly in due course. The analysis will define how many consultancy firms have been used by the Department over the past financial year.

GM Oilseed Rape

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she received from (a) biotechnology companies, (b) environmental groups and (c) farming organisations regarding the application for a licence to import GT73 genetically modified oilseed rape into the European Union for use as animal feed (i) before and (ii) after 20 June.

Elliot Morley: Defra Ministers have not, either before or after 20 June 2004, had any direct representations from biotechnology companies, or farming organisations regarding this application. I have received one letter from an environmental organisation which included, among other issues, a representation on this case. The Application by Monsanto Europe SA/NV for consent to import and market oilseed rape grain GT73 under Directive 2001/18 was made through the Netherlands Competent Authority. As part of the procedure there is a mandatory EU-wide system of written consultation for each commercial GM product application before any decision is made. This provides all members of the public throughout the EU with the opportunity to make representations, which are taken into account during the regulatory process. The UK authorities assessed the dossier after the Netherlands had submitted their opinion and considered that further information was necessary before coming to a decision. Monsanto subsequently provided some further information.

Land Reform

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the policy of her Department is on land reform.

Alun Michael: The Department has no proposals for land reform.

Nitrates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with farming bodies regarding the application of organic nitrogen in nitrate vulnerable zones.

Elliot Morley: The nitrates directive outlines the rules, including those restricting the rate and timing of organic manure applications, that must be included within a member states' action programme.
	In December 1998, Defra's predecessor Department established an action programme within the nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) in England and Wales. During the development of this action programme, those Departments formally consulted with stakeholders, including farming bodies, on a number of separate occasions. Specifically:
	November 1995: consultation on Proposed Measures to Apply in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and Draft Regulations Transposing the Directive in England and Wales.
	December 1997: consultation on Draft Regulations Establishing the Action Programme Measures to Apply in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England and Wales.
	In December 2002, Defra established an action programme within the additional NVZs designated in that year. This action programme was effectively identical to that established in the original NVZs in 1998. Nevertheless, the Department provided the opportunity for further comment during the following consultation:
	December 2001: The Protection of waters against agricultural nitrate pollution in England: How should England implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive?

Nitrates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding (a) nitrate vulnerable zones and (b) nitrate derogations.

Elliot Morley: The Department has regular contact with the Scottish Executive on all matters regarding the implementation of the Nitrates Directive. Additionally, the Scottish Executive are a member of the project board that oversees the development of research in relation to the intended UK justification to the EU Commission in support of a derogation to allow a higher application limit for manure nitrogen within its Action Programmes.

Nitrates

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make representations to obtain a derogation to allow organic nitrogen to be applied in nitrate vulnerable zones up to 250kg per hectare.

Elliot Morley: Member States may allow a different application limit than the baseline of 170kgN/ha set by the Nitrates Directive, though they must justify that decision to the EU Commission. As a result of earlier discussions with the Commission, the Department has initiated research to support the UK justification for the inclusion of a higher application limit within its Action Programmes.

Nuclear Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential for plasma gasification melting technology to deal with nuclear waste.

Elliot Morley: The Department has made no such assessment. However, the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which has been set up by UK Government and the devolved Administrations, is currently considering a wide range of options for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste and is very happy to receive suggestions via its website—www.corwm.org.uk.

Oil Pollution

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from (a) the Environment Agency and (b) the Environmental Industries Commission on oil pollution of inland waters; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My officials are in regular contact with the Environment Agency which is responsible for enforcing the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 which were introduced to prevent pollution of surface and ground waters. I have received representations from the Environmental Industries Commission relating to its report "Oil under the Carpet" which calls for the regulations to be strengthened. My view remains that this would be premature, given that the requirements do not come fully into force until September 2005 and there has already been an encouraging fall in the number of oil pollution incidents reported since the regulations were made.

Organophosphates

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what products containing organophosphates are authorised for use in the United Kingdom, in (a) agriculture, (b) horticulture, (c) industrial and (d) domestic circumstances; by which companies each is manufactured; what quantities she estimates were supplied in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement on their future use.

Alun Michael: A list of products for use in agriculture and horticulture that contain organophosphates and are currently approved by the Pesticides Safety Directorate is provided in the attached table. The table also lists separately the organophosphate veterinary products approved for use in domestic circumstances and as sheep dips. There are no approved pesticide products containing organophosphates approved in domestic gardens, industrial products and domestic uses other than plant protection products are approved by the Health and Safety Executive.
	Information on the quantities of each pesticide is not available as these data are not gathered by the Pesticides Safety Directorate. Data on total sales are collected for the purposes of the levy, but this does not include information on individual products. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate does not collect comprehensive data on the sales of veterinary medicines containing organophosphates (OPs), other than sheep dips. This is because OP sheep dips have always been regarded as presenting the greatest potential risk to human health. These sales data are collected under the adverse reaction surveillance scheme, and have been used to put into context the numbers of serious human adverse reactions being reported for OP sheep dips. The number of such adverse reactions reported to other OP based veterinary medicines is negligible. This year we have received no adverse reaction reports to any OP based veterinary medicine, including sheep dips.
	The most recent figures available, which cover sales in the year 2003, show that there were 54,000 kg of organophosphate active ingredients sold in such products. Given a sheep population of around 36 million in the UK, this equates to about 1.5 grams of active used on each sheep per year.
	Future use of organophosphates
	Veterinary Medicines:
	The independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee, which advises agriculture and health Ministers on all aspects of veterinary medicines, takes the safety of organophosphates very seriously and keeps their use in veterinary medicines under regular review. It has recently confirmed its advice that, on the basis of the current scientific evidence, there is no need to take any further regulatory action on these products, provided they are used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions.
	Pesticides:
	All agricultural pesticides are subject to strict regulatory control and must be approved by Ministers before they can be marketed or used in the UK. Data are thoroughly evaluated by the Pesticides Safety Directorate. PSD's evaluation is subject to independent scrutiny by the Advisory Committee an Pesticides. All pesticide approvals are subject to a regular review programme including organophosphates, and a specific review may be activated at any time if evidence emerges concerning their safety. If appropriate, an approval can be restricted or revoked entirely.
	
		Currently approved pesticide products containing organophosphates
		
			 Product MAFF No. Approval Holder(s) Agricultural Horticultural 
		
		
			 Actellic D M10509 Syngenta Crop Protection UK Ltd. X __ 
			 Actellic Smoke Generator No.10 M10448 Octavius Hunt Ltd. X __ 
			 Actellic Smoke Generator No. 20 M06627 Zeneca Ltd. X __ 
			 Actellic Smoke Generator No. 20 M10540 Octavius.Hunt Ltd. X X 
			 Agriguard Chlorpyrifos M10626 Tronsan Ltd. X X 
			 Aliette 80 WG M09156 Aventis CropScience UK Ltd. __ X 
			 Aliette 80 WG M11213 Bayer CropScience Ltd. __ X 
			 Alpha Chlorpyrifos 48EC M04821 Makhteshim-Agan (UK) Ltd. X X 
			 Aventis Mocap 10G M09973 Aventis CropScience UK Ltd. X X 
			 Ballad M11659 Cheminova Agro A/S X X 
			 Barclay Clinch II M08596 Barclay Chemicals Manufacturing Ltd. X X 
			 Barclay Clinch II M11346 Barclay Chemicals (R & D) Ltd. X X 
			 BASF Dimethoate 40 M00199 BASF pic X X 
			 Basilex M07494 The Scotts Company (UK) Ltd. X X 
			 Chevron 48 M10645 DAPT Agrochemicals Ltd. X X 
			 Choir M09778 Cheminova Agro A/S X X 
			 Cleancrop Pychlorex M11681 Chimac-Agriphar SA X X 
			 Crossfire 480 M08141 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Crossfire 480 M09929 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. — X 
			 CYREN M08358 Cheminova Agro A/S — X 
			 Cyren M11028 Cheminova A/S X X 
			 Danadim M09583 Cheminova Agro A/S X X 
			 Danadim M11550 Cheminova Agro A/S X X 
			 Dispatch M08139 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. — X 
			 Duramitex M08664 Harkers Ltd. X X 
			 Dursban 4 M07815 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Dursban WG M09153 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Equity M11520 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Fumite Pirimiphos Methyl Smoke M00941 Octavius Hunt Ltd. — X 
			 Fyfanon 440 M11014 Cheminova Agro A/S — X 
			 Fyfanon 440 M11134 Cheminova Agro A/S — X 
			 Greencrop Pontoon M09667 Greencrop Technology Ltd. X X 
			 Greencrop Storeclean 225 M11098 Greencrop Technology Ltd. X X 
			 IT. Fosetyl-AL M11717 IT Agro Ltd. — X 
			 Lorsban 480 M08076 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Lorsban T M07813 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. — X 
			 Lorsban WG M10139 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Lorsban WG M11962 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Malathion 60 M08018 United Phosphorus Ltd. X X 
			 Maraud M09274 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. — X 
			 Me2 Cindy M10634 Me2 Crop Protection Limited X X 
			 Mocap 10G M10003 Bayer CropScience Ltd. X X 
			 Nemathorin 10G M11003 ISK Biosciences Europe SA X X 
			 Prostore157 UI M12017 FMC Chemical s.p.r.l X X 
			 Prostore 420 EC M12036 FMC Chemical s.p.r.l X X 
			 Prostore 420EC M12210 FMC Chemical s.p.r.l X X 
			 Pyrinex 48EC M08644 Makhteshim-Agan (UK) Ltd. X X 
			 Reldan 22 M08191 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. X X 
			 Rizolex M09673 Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe SA X X 
			 Rizolex 50 WP M07272 Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe SA X X 
			 Rizolex Flowable M09358 Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe SA X X 
			 Rizolex Flowable M11399 Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe SA X — 
			 Roger L40 M07611 Isagro S. p. A X X 
			 Sector M10492 Cheminova Agro A/S X X 
			 Spannit M08744 SumiAgro (UK) Ltd. X X 
			 Spannit Granules M10935 SumiAgro (UK) Ltd. — X 
			 Standon Chlorpyrifos 48 M08286 Standon Chemicals Ltd. — X 
			 Standon Fosetyl-AL 80WG M10667 Standon Chemicals Ltd. — X 
			 Suscon Green Soil Insecticide M06312 Dow AgroSciences Ltd. — X 
		
	
	
		Currently authorised veterinary medicinal products containing organophosphates
		
			 Product Marketing Authorisation Holder Domestic pet treatments Sheep Dip 
		
		
			 Armitage Pet Care Protect Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Armitage Pet Care Protect Flea Collar for Cats Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Bob Martin Flash Cat Reflective Collar for Cats and Kittens Over 6 Months Old Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Bob Martin Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Bob Martin Flea and Tick Collar Plus Coat Conditioner Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Bob Martin Flea Collar for Cats Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Bob Martin Soft Touch Flea Collar Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Bob Martin Velvet Flea Collar for Cats and Kittens Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Catovel Pretty Care Elasticated Insecticidal Collar for Cats Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Coopers Ectoforce Sheep Dip Schering Plough — __ 
			 Friskies Cat Flea Collar Alfamed Sa X __ 
			 Friskies Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs Alfamed Sa X __ 
			 Friskies Pro Control Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs Alfamed Sa X __ 
			 Friskies Pro Control Flea Collar for Cats Alfamed Sa X __ 
			 Good Girl Flea Collar for Cats Beaphar Ltd. X __ 
			 Hi-Craft Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs Beaphar Ltd. X __ 
			 Johnson's Flea Guard Collar for Cats Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Osmonds Gold Fleece Sheep Dip Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd X __ 
			 Otello Insecticidal Collar for Cats Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Otello Insecticidal Collar for Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Otello Insecticidal Collar for Large Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Paracide Plus Animax Ltd. X __ 
			 Pestroy 3 Months Cat Collar Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Pet Star Dog Flea And Tick Collar Beaphar Ltd. X __ 
			 Prevender Cat Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Preventef Insecticidal Collar for Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Preventef Insecticidal Collar for Large Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Preventef Insecticidal Collar for Puppies and Young Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Protection 300 Insecticidal Collar Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Salmosan(9) Novartis Animal Vaccines Ltd. X __ 
			 Sergeants Flea Collar for Cats Conagra Pet Products X __ 
			 Sergeants Flea Collar for Dogs Conagra Pet Products X __ 
			 Sergeants Flea Collar for Large Dogs Conagra Pet Products X __ 
			 Seven Seas Kytzyme Flea Rid Luxury Velvet Collar Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Seven Seas Vetzyme Flea Rid Reflective Flea Collar Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Seven Seas Vetzyme Flea Rid Reflective Flea Collar for Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Seven Seas Vetzyme Flea Rid Reflective Flea Collar for Large Dogs Virbac Sa X __ 
			 Twin Pack two Collars Bob Martin Flea and Tick for Dogs and Puppies Over 12 Weeks Old Virbac Sa X — 
			 Whiskas Care Flea Collar Beaphar Ltd X — 
			 Wilko Long Lasting Flea Collar for Cats Virbac Sa X — 
		
	
	(9) Approved for use as a commercial fisheries product

Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value was of contracts between community recycling organisations and local authorities in England in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003.

Elliot Morley: Defra does not hold this information. The hon. Member may like to contact the Community Recycling Network (www.crn.org.uk and 0117 942 0142).

Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many community recycling organisations were registered in England to collect waste in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003.

Elliot Morley: This information is not held centrally, as not all community recycling organisations are required to be registered with the Environment Agency.

Sea Defence Projects

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what procurement policy the Government have in place for the use of timber in sea defence projects; and what steps she takes to ensure that all such timber is (a) procured from legal and sustainable sources and (b) certified by one of the two systems the Central Point on Expertise on Timber has identified as guaranteeing legality and sustainability;
	(2)  if she will list the sea defence projects planned for (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 which will use timber in their construction, stating (i) what type of timber will be used, (ii) whether this timber is procured from legal and sustainable sources and (iii) whether this timber is certified by one of the two systems the Central Point on Expertise on Timber has identified as guaranteeing legality and sustainability.

Elliot Morley: Defra funds most of the Environment Agency's flood defence activities and provides grant aid on a project-by-project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in improvement projects to manage flood and coastal erosion risk.
	In 2000, the Government announced that Departments and agencies, including the Environment Agency, must actively seek to procure timber and timber products from sources independently validated as legal and sustainably managed. In 2002, Defra Ministers wrote to all English local authorities to encourage them to adopt responsible timber procurement policies. However, choice of materials to be used in construction of defences and whether they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources is a matter for the relevant operating authority. I regret therefore that parts (i), (ii) and (iii) of question 202088 could not be answered without incurring disproportionate cost.
	I understand that the Environment Agency, as a non-departmental body of Defra, purchases timber in accordance with the Government's timber procurement policy. Currently this policy is to require contractors to supply timber products that derive from legally harvested trees. Bidders for Government contracts are invited to offer timber from sustainable sources as a higher quality variant and such offers are given preference where they offer value for money.
	Timber used by the Agency in sea defence projects is predominantly tropical hardwood. The Central Point on Expertise on Timber (CPET) has concluded that all five certification schemes it examined provide assurance of compliance with Government requirements for legal timber. CPET further concluded that the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Canadian Standards Association will also assure central departments that timber products derive from sustainably managed forests. However there is very little certified hardwood available that is suitable for marine work.
	The Agency is working with its supply chain to encourage more production of tropical hardwood that can be independently verified as legally harvested from sustainably managed forests. The Agency currently does its own auditing of timber use in the absence of any other independent verification.
	The following table shows coastal defence projects on which authorities are likely to incur expenditure in years 2004–05 and 2005–06 and where timber is either likely to be used or to have been used. The table is based on forward planning project information provided recently by the Environment Agency and by local authorities in the summer and should be regarded as indicative rather than a definitive list.
	
		
			  Authority  Project Estimated start year 
		
		
			 Allerdale borough council Maryport Harbour Flood and Coast Defence On-going 
			 Arun district council Elmer Phase 3 2005–06 
			 Arun district council Felpham Beach Nourishment 2005–06 
			 Bournemouth borough council Groyne Building Programme, Stage 26 On-going 
			 Canterbury city council Tankerton Sea Defences—Phase 3 On-going 
			 Canterbury city council Whitstable Coastal Defences 2004–05 
			 Dover district council Kingsdown and Walmer Beach Management On-going 
			 Eastbourne borough council Eastbourne Beach Management 2004–05 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Withernsea Southern Revetment 2004–05 
			 Environment Agency Pert, near Rye, East Sussex On-going 
			 Environment Agency Bulverhythe, St. Leonards on Sea, East Sussex 2005–06 
			 Hastings borough council Hastings Beach Management (Years 1–5) 2004–05 
			 Havant borough council Shingle Recycling, Seafront, Hayling Island 2004–05 
			 Havant borough council Beach Nourishment, Eastoke, Hayling Island 2005–06 
			 Portsmouth city council Old Portsmouth Flood Protection Works On-going 
			 Rother district council Cooden to Cliff End Coastal Defence 2005–06 
			 Waveney district council Southwold Town Defence Improvements 2005–06 
			 West Dorset district council West Bay Coastal Defence, Harbour Improvements and Sea Defences On-going

Sewage Discharges (River Thames)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sewage was discharged into the Thames in each month of the last four years.

Elliot Morley: Table 1 sets out the monthly flow data of sewage discharges from Abingdon, Cassington, Little Marlow and Windsor treatment works directly to the upper freshwater section of the Thames. Secondary and more stringent treatment is provided to the sewage prior to discharge at Abingdon, Little Marlow and Windsor. Discharges from Cassington receive secondary treatment, and are to receive more stringent treatment in 2005.
	
		Table 1
		
			 Month 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 January 2,467,930 1,364,441 2,662,071 1,717,430 
			 February 2,559,654 1,758,236 1,824,948 1,560,620 
			 March 2,732,630 1,736,920 1,749,267 1,509,818 
			 April 2,476,747 1,395,060 1,543,983 1,576,418 
			 May 2,234,910 1,531,603 1,656,310 1,330,036 
			 June 1,872,673 1,393,458 1,568,915 1,098,837 
			 July 1,740,616 1,355,047 1,391,433 1,201,917 
			 August 1,557,598 1,618,557 1,287,003 1,394,409 
			 September 1,515,436 1,528,801 1,171,360 1,482,751 
			 October 1,596,579 1,706,734 1,198,676 1,627,493 
			 November 1,268,180 2,047,635 1,433,187 1,709,499 
			 December 1,120,988 1,997,761 1,564,898 n/a 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are in cubic metres.
	Sewage discharges to the Thames estuary are made by three water companies Thames, Anglian and Southern. The following tables concern discharges made by Thames Water.
	Table 2 sets out the average monthly volumes of fully treated, to secondary standards, and partially treated, because of excess flows during wet weather, sewage discharges to the Thames from Beckton, Crossness, Long Reach, Mogden and Riverside treatment works. I have provided the monthly average as the volumes are fairly constant throughout the year.
	
		Table 2
		
			  Fully treated sewage from five treatment works Partially treated sewage from five treatment works 
		
		
			 2001 75,883,503 1,851,077 
			 2002 73,356,102 2,209,715 
			 2003 75,878,615 1,234,308 
			 2004 70,313,523 1,123,331 
		
	
	Table 3 sets out the monthly calculated volumes of untreated sewage discharged to the Thames from the five largest pumping stations during wet weather. As no data are available for the other overflows along the Thames Tideway, it is estimated that on average these volumes represent 60 per cent. of the total discharge from London's combined drainage system at these times.
	
		Table 3
		
			 Month 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 January 3,471,000 3,009,000 12,954,000 9,281,000 
			 February 9,279,000 4,746,000 3,759,000 3,240,000 
			 March 8,118,000 2,761,000 743,000 44,000 
			 April 2,688,000 2,662,000 395,000 3,665,000 
			 May 2,322,000 2,007,000 543,000 3,268,000 
			 June 1,757,000 3,353,000 950,000 3,047,000 
			 July 1,742,000 1,962,000 1,124,000 1,260,000 
			 August 4,490,000 4,017,000 438,000 4,945,000 
			 September 2,261,000 563,000 577,000 446,000 
			 October 6,312,000 3,961,000 2,600,000 4,290,000 
			 November 2,400,000 12,144,000 11,072,000 304,000 
			 December 1,096,000 11,755,000 6,064,000 n/a

Supermarkets

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with which supermarkets her Department has had discussions regarding policies on stocking UK-produced food.

Alun Michael: As part of the Defra funded £3 million programme of support for the quality regional food sector, Food From Britain have held discussions with Asda, Booths, Budgens, the Co-op, Londis, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose to understand their local sourcing policies and to work with them and regional food groups to get more quality regional foods listed.
	In addition, as part of the work under the "Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England" my ministerial colleague, the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), has had meetings in the last 12 months with representatives of Tesco, Asda and Morrisons. Officials have also had regular contact with the British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores regarding local sourcing.

Supermarkets

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list in descending order the percentage of (a) pork, (b) bacon and (c) ham which (i) was British and (ii) bore the Meat and Livestock Commission's Quality Standard Mark offered for sale in supermarkets in (A) March and (B) May.

Alun Michael: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			   (a) Pork (b) Bacon (c) Ham 
		
		
			  March
			 (i) British produced 90 43 44 
			 (ii) Bears quality standard mark 68 23 10 
			  May
			 (i) British produced 84 39 30 
			 (ii) Bears quality standard mark 71 24 11 
		
	
	However, in addition to the above figures several large supermarkets 1 currently supply 100 per cent. British fresh pork, but do not carry the Quality Standard Mark. The British Pig Executive (BPEX) is working closely with them to encourage the use of the QSM on their packaging.
	1 Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Budgens supply 100 per cent. British fresh pork, and Morrisons supply predominantly British fresh pork.

Turkey Farms

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 
	(1)  how many cases of the liver disease blackhead have been detected in commercial turkey farms in the UK, in each of the past 10 years for which records are available;
	(2)  what measures her Department has taken to protect commercial turkey farmers from the liver disease blackhead.

Ben Bradshaw: Blackhead is not a notifiable disease so it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the number of cases. Over the past 10 years the number of incidents of blackhead in turkeys recorded on VIDA by VLA and SAC for England, Scotland and Wales between 1994 and 2003 are listed in the table:
	
		(VIDA-Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis database, VLA-Veterinary Laboratories Agency, SAC-Scottish Agricultural College)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1994 6 
			 1995 13 
			 1996 7 
			 1997 9 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 6 
			 2000 6 
			 2001 8 
			 2002 11 
			 2003 29 
			 Total 101 
		
	
	21 incidents have been recorded on VIDA so far during 2004 from England and Wales.
	In addition to the diagnoses of blackhead recorded on VIDA, other cases may be diagnosed by veterinarians in practice, without submitting material to the VLA. To obtain a better idea of the current prevalence of the disease in the industry as a whole a questionnaire has been prepared in conjunction with Defra and supplied to the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) for their members to report any cases they encounter. Veterinary colleagues in practice have also been encouraged to use the questionnaire to provide surveillance information on the disease particularly in cases where the diagnosis is not confirmed by the VLA.
	Two questionnaires have been received relating to blackhead in turkeys in 2004 from flocks of 30 and 77 birds.
	Information on the prevention of Blackhead in Turkeys is available on the Defra website at http://defraweb/animalh/diseases/other/blackhead.htm.

Turkey Farms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what technology her Department uses to monitor the spread of turkey manure.

Alun Michael: Defra has collected information on the land-spreading of organic manures, including turkey manure, in the 2003 British Survey of Fertiliser Practice. Information collected in the survey included rate and timing of application and the allowance made by farmers for the nutrient content of the manure.
	Farmers located within Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are obliged to comply with an Action Programme of measures that includes restrictions upon the rate and timing at which organic manure can be spread. The Environment Agency is the pertinent enforcement body, and checks farm records to monitor compliance with the Action Programme.
	In some cases the spreading of turkey manure may be subject to control under the Waste Framework Directive. On 9 December Defra published a consultation paper on the draft Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2005. These Regulations are necessary to repeal the current exclusion in section 75(7)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and to apply the Directive's requirements to "agricultural waste". The consultation paper is available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/default.asp The application of the Directive's requirements to manure is discussed in paragraphs 3.22–3.23 of the consultation paper.

Turkey Farms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is taking to control the spread of odour from turkey manure.

Alun Michael: From 2007 large turkey producers (those with 40,000 or more places for turkeys) will be regulated under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regime. New installations are now regulated from the outset. Under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regime farming installations will have to comply with the Environment Agency's Standard Farming Rules and Guidance for the poultry sector. In regards to manure spreading, turkey producers will be required to set up a manure management plan for spreading turkey manure on their own farm. Turkey producers would also be required to identify the quantity—and the nitrogen content—of manure if it is sent to another farm for land spreading.
	Land spreading of organic manures in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (approximately 55 per cent. of England) must comply with the Action Programme that includes limits on nitrogen application, controls on spreading and periods when spreading cannot take place. Guidelines for farmers are published by the Department, while enforcement action is with the Environment Agency. Outside of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, farmers are encouraged to comply with the advice in Defra's Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water, Air and Soil.
	Where odour is a nuisance for those living in the vicinity of a farm where the spreading of turkey manure is practised, local authorities can take action under the statutory nuisance regime of section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Local authorities have a duty to take reasonable steps, where practicable, to investigate complaints of odour. If a local authority decides that an odour is prejudicial to health or a nuisance, an abatement notice must be issued, requiring that the activity causing the nuisance cease, or that 'best practicable means' be employed to reduce the level of odour. The penalty for non-compliance with an abatement notice is a fine not exceeding £20,000 upon summary conviction.

Waste

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total tonnage of waste collected has been by community recycling organisations in England in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003.

Elliot Morley: This information is not held centrally. The Community Recycling Network holds some information on the tonnage of waste collected by its members, but this represents only a part of the total collected by community recycling organisations.

Waste

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much public money was spent on collecting and managing municipal waste in England in each year between 1997 and 2002; and how much on average it cost to collect and manage one tonne of municipal waste in the UK in each year.

Elliot Morley: The amount of public money spent on collecting and managing municipal waste in England in each year between 1997 and 2002 is set out in the table below. These figures include the amount of landfill tax paid, which does not form part of the net cost of waste management. It is not possible to separate out the proportion of landfill tax which relates to municipal waste disposal because landfill site operators make a single return to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise which covers all of their activities.
	
		
			  Amount of public money spent on collecting and managing municipal waste in England (Revenue outturn (RO6 Form)) 
			 Financial year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,199 
			 1998–99 1,282 
			 1999–2000 1,423 
			 2000–01 1,521 
			 2001–02 1,654 
			 2002–03 1,807 
		
	
	Waste management is a devolved function. The hon. Member may wish to approach the devolved Administrations about their costs for the collection and management of one tonne of municipal waste in each year between 1997 and 2002. The information for England is given in the table.
	
		
			  Cost for collection and management of one tonne of municipal waste (Revenue Outturn (RO6 Form)) 
			 Financial year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 46.63 
			 1998–99 48.68 
			 1999–2000 51.78 
			 2000–01 54.21 
			 2001–02 57.44 
			 2002–03 61.65

Water Charges

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to help fixed income and low paid households in the south west of England pay increased water charges.

Elliot Morley: The report of a cross-Government Review of Water Affordability was published on 2 December. In addition to a number of recommendations of general application, the report also proposed a local scale pilot scheme in the South West Water area to target water affordability assistance to lower income households. The purpose of the pilot study is to assess the combined impacts of benefits entitlement checks, water efficiency measures and metering. Defra will be discussing the details of the pilot with the water company with the aim of a start early in the next financial year.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Building Schools for the Future

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions his officials have had discussions with the City Treasurer of the City of Newcastle to discuss the revenue financing of the Building Schools for the Future programme; and what was agreed during such discussions.

Nick Raynsford: There have been no formal meetings or discussions between officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the City Treasurer of the City of Newcastle to discuss the revenue financing of the Building Schools for the Future programme.
	Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have regular contact with the City Treasurer, as with other local government officers, to discuss issues on local government finance.

Building Schools for the Future

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the scaling factors are for supporting borrowing under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Nick Raynsford: Borrowing by local authorities to fund investment under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme will be supported in exactly the same way as other supported borrowing. Any Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) (SCE(R)) amount for the BSF programme will be included, together with other SCE(R) amounts, in the calculations for the Debt Charges element of the Formula Spending Share. Each element of the Formula Spending Share (FSS) calculations incorporates a scaling factor to ensure that the sum of the relevant element for all authorities is equal to the national total for that element set by central government in the Spending Review.
	The overall Formula Spending Share for an authority is then used in determining how much Formula Grant support an authority will receive for all services for which the authority is responsible.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on proposals for Revenue Support Grant for 2005–06. The provisional scaling factor for the Debt Charges FSS element for 2005–06 is about 1.11. We expect to announce details of our final proposals, following consultation, towards the end of January.

Election Turnouts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government has made of the impact on local election turnout of Electoral Commission Circular EC34/2004; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minster has made no assessment of what impact the Electoral Commission Circular will have on local government elections turnout.

Energy Efficiency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers local authorities have to levy council tax discounts for energy efficiency measures.

Nick Raynsford: Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as inserted by section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003, gives local billing authorities the flexibility, if they wish, to grant reductions or exemptions on an individual basis or for a class of council tax payers.

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firework-related callouts to the fire service there were in England in (a) 2004 and (b) 2003.

Phil Hope: The number of primary fires started by fireworks, attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in England, were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002–03 88 
			 2003–04 172 
		
	
	Note:
	Excludes 15 days of industrial action in 2002–03.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service returns to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Government Bodies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) regional bodies, (b) taskforces and (c) organisations that the Government have established since 1997; and which Departments have (i) established and (ii) expanded regional offices since 1997.

Phil Hope: The regional bodies, which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister contributes funds to, and that were established since 1997, are the nine regional development agencies (RDAs). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also recognises the eight voluntary regional chambers, outside London.
	Information on task forces attached to central Government Departments and in existence between May 1997 and October 2000 was made available in three reports published in January, July and December 2000 on "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews". For the years 2001–02 and 2003–03, this information has been included in the publications "Public Bodies 2002" and "Public Bodies 2003" respectively. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.
	Since 1997, more responsibilities have been given to the Government offices and they now carry out work on behalf of 10 Departments. Their current responsibilities are set out in the Regional Co-ordination Unit and Government Office Network Corporate Plan 2004–05. A copy of this has already been made available in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Conduct

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what procedures are in place within his Department to ensure that Ministers do not use public resources for political or party advantage.

Phil Hope: The Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code make clear that public resources should not be used for Party political purposes.

MOD Land

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 December 2004, Official Report, columns 346–47W, on Ministry of Defence land, what assessment he has made of (a) the direct benefits for English Partnerships, (b) the implications for the current planning systems and (c) the effects on local communities; what procedures are in place to audit the arrangement; which surplus sites in Hampshire will be affected by the new arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: English Partnerships has an important part to play in helping to deliver the objectives of the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan. A key role for English Partnerships is to find and assemble land, particularly brownfield and publicly owned land, for housing development in areas of high demand. The Register of surplus public sector land provides a mechanism within which English Partnerships, or another central Government body, can express an interest in a site which is surplus to operational requirements.
	The framework agreement between English Partnerships and Defence Estates announced in November simplifies the working arrangements between the organisations with regard to surplus land.
	All sites identified through this process will be subject to the current planning system. Planning applications must follow the same procedure as would apply to applications for any other site and applicant. The framework agreement underpins this process and will provide an early opportunity for community engagement about the planning options for any given site.
	The working arrangements agreed under the framework agreement will be monitored and reviewed as a part of English Partnerships' normal operations and the operation of the Register of surplus public sector land.
	Any surplus sites in Hampshire held by central Government bodies have to be placed on the Register before they can be put on the open market. The framework agreement with Defence Estates covers sites in Hampshire that are or will become surplus to Defence requirements. It will be for English Partnerships to decide if they have an interest in any of these sites.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the use by Liverpool city council of the powers to declare a renewal area without having published the findings of a Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment;
	(2)  what (a) entitlements are conferred and (b) obligations are imposed by the notice recently published by Liverpool city council of a renewal area in the Kensington New Deal and Elm Park areas.

Keith Hill: The declaration of a Renewal Area under section 89(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as amended by the Regulatory Reform Order (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 is designed to provide a long term strategic framework for housing renewal assistance in that area and to act as a catalyst for wider regeneration action.
	Before declaring a Renewal Area, the authority must first satisfy itself that the unsatisfactory living conditions in the area are best dealt with in this way. As part of this process the authority must consider a report which among other things considers the living conditions in the area and the authority's detailed proposals for dealing with these conditions, either by using powers in the 1989 Act or by other means.
	The Secretary of State, my right. hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has issued guidance which recommends that as part of this evaluation the authority should undertake an assessment of the proposed area which is called a Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment. There is no legislative requirement to publish any such assessment. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published in 2004 a revised guidance manual for Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment.
	Before declaring a Renewal Area the authority is required by section 89(6) of the 1989 Act to consult with local residents in the area about the authority's detailed proposals for action contained in the report referred to above. It is also required to publicise the declaration when it has been made and to keep local residents informed during the renewal process and to notify them of any changes to the original declaration.
	The declaration of a Renewal Area by a local authority confers on it additional powers. These are principally for the acquisition of land and property either by agreement or compulsorily for the improvement of the area and for the well-being of residents. Also to carry out works on land which it owns.
	Full guidance on the use of Renewal Areas is set out in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's circular 05/2003 entitled 'Housing Renewal'.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much neighbourhood renewal funding earmarked for wards with high levels of deprivation was transferred by Liverpool city council for the establishment of a city of culture information office in Liverpool city centre.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister understands that in discussion of their priorities for neighbourhood renewal funding (NRF) for this year, the Liverpool Partnership Group decided to allocate £600,000 towards the establishment of a City of Culture information office. This will enable Liverpool's citizens, as well as visitors, to access information about City of Culture. NRF is provided to local authorities to help them and their Local Strategic Partnerships to improve services in their most deprived neighbourhoods and to narrow the gap between their most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country in particular in terms of employment, education, crime, health and housing.

Planning Delivery Grant

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Planning Delivery Grant is ring-fenced funding.

Keith Hill: Planning Delivery Grant is not ring-fenced. Grant is awarded on the basis of previous performance, and therefore if authorities do not spend it on improving their planning services, the likelihood is that they will not receive awards at the same level in future.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Age Discrimination

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce legislation against age discrimination; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are committed to outlawing age discrimination in employment and vocational training. We intend to introduce age legislation in 2006 which will make unjustified age discrimination in vocational training and employment, including recruitment, training, promotion and dismissal, unlawful for workers of all ages.

Business Registration (Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were registered in Birmingham Hodge Hill in each of the last seven years.

Nigel Griffiths: There were 6,800 business start-ups in Birmingham local authority (for which Birmingham, Hodge Hill is a constituency) in 2003 and a further 4,200 in the first six months of 2004. Business start-up data for local authorities are not available for before 2003. Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003, a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. A further 288,000 businesses started up in England and Wales in the first six months of 2004. This represents an increase of 23 per cent. on the first six months of 2003.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Birmingham local authority (for which Birmingham, Hodge Hill is a constituency) are shown below for the period 1997 to 2003.
	
		VAT registrations 1997 to 2003—Birmingham
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 2,855 
			 1998 2,760 
			 1999 2,590 
			 2000 2,670 
			 2001 2,385 
			 2002 2,385 
			 2003 2,515 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2003, Small Business Service www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.

Business Support Initiatives

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have been helped by Business Link in each (a) region, (b) constituency and (c) local authority ward in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 to date.

Nigel Griffiths: The table shows the number of businesses helped by Business Link in each region in 2003–04 and by 30 September 2004.
	
		Businesses helped by Business Link
		
			  2003–04 2004 to end September 
		
		
			 England 435,293 259,102 
			
			 North East 15,652 10,784 
			 North West 51,357 33,474 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 43,829 27,092 
			 East Midlands 36,802 22,058 
			 West Midlands 52,841 32,246 
			 East 40,247 24,002 
			 London 59,354 29,638 
			 South East 88,267 47,296 
			 South West 46,944 21,512

Coal Industry

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) operating and (b) investment aid has been made to collieries since 1997, broken down by colliery.

Mike O'Brien: This information can be found on the DTI website. Details of operating aid paid to each colliery are at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/ukcoas/index.shtml—click on 'list of applicants'. Details of investment aid payments to date are at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/invest_aid/index.shtml.

Competition Law

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what consultations her Department has undertaken with the newspaper and magazine distribution industry with regard to the proposed changes in competition law;
	(2)  whether she supports the block exemption initiative in relation to the proposed changes in competition law affecting newspaper and magazine distribution.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Over the course of the past 18 months, DTI Ministers and officials have had discussions with all sides of the newspaper and magazine industry about how removing the Order exempting vertical agreements from prohibition under UK competition law would affect arrangements for distribution of newspapers and magazines. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is now engaged in discussions with representatives from all sides of the newspaper and magazine industry to ensure the arrangements in place for the distribution of newspapers and magazines will continue to comply fully with domestic and European competition law after 1 May 2005 when this change will come into effect. In the context of these discussions, I understand some parties have argued in favour of a new block exemption for exclusive distribution agreements between newspaper and magazine publishers and wholesalers. DTI Ministers expect to receive advice from OFT on progress with discussions on these matters by spring 2005 at the latest.

Departmental Computer Systems

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at interventions have been made across Government Departments to protect computer systems against the unwitting triggering of premium rate numbers through the internet.

Mike O'Brien: Premium Rate Services (PRS) are regulated by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS). Their Code of Practice is set in accordance with condition 120 of the Communications Act 2003, which stipulates that Ofcom can set conditions to control the activities of PRS providers by means of such a Code of Practice.
	The Government have discussed the issue of PRS dialler scams with ICSTIS and other stakeholders on several occasions over the summer and autumn. We have encouraged ICSTIS to take urgent action to deal with the problem. We have noticed some reduction in the number of complaints in the most recent months compared with the summer, although the problem remains significant.
	In the summer we asked Ofcom to review PRS regulation, and Ofcom published a report on 9 December. The main recommendations for changes fall into the following three areas.
	1. Improved Enforcement
	Faster and more effective ICSTIS sanctions, including the power to impose sanctions directly on telecoms companies who breach the rules, with enforceable fines to deter fraudsters.
	2. Consumer Redress
	More effective mechanisms for ensuring that defrauded customers can get their money back, preferably from the person or company that breached the ICSTIS Code of Practice.
	3. Consumer Information
	Consumers need to be better informed about the ways they can protect themselves against PRS scams. All the telecoms companies in the PRS industry should play a more proactive role in informing and educating their customers. ICSTIS should continue to play a role in advising and educating consumers about PRS scams and its budget should reflect the increased resources it will need in order to continue to perform such a role effectively.

Departmental Online Advertising

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's online advertising budget was for each year between 1997 and 2004.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested is not held centrally in the form required and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

EU Constitution

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the proposed EU Constitution will provide an additional legal basis for Community action in the field of services of general economic interest.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 7 December 2004
	The proposed Constitutional Treaty would provide a legal basis for European laws defining the principles and conditions enabling services of general economic interest to fulfil their missions, without prejudice to the competence of member states, in compliance with the Constitution, to provide, to commission and to fund such services.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total external spending by her Department was on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The table gives the information required for the central Department. The central Department employed PFI consultants on two projects within the Department in the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 to date.
	
		
			  Financial Year 
			  2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Total Spend (£) 1,674,000 2,099,000 
			 Full-Time Equivalents (number) 10.3 14.4 
			 Billed Consultancy Days (number) 2,264 2,104 
			 Implied Average Cost (£) 163,000 209,000 
			 Firms Used (number) 10 10

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firework-related (a) fatalities and (b) injuries occurred in (i) Wales and (ii) the South Wales Police Force Area in (A) 2002, (B) 2003 and (C) 2004.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There were no fatalities as a result of the use of fireworks in 2002 or 2003 in the UK.
	In 2002, there were 106 injuries where patients were either detained in hospital for one night or more or transferred to another hospital for treatment. In 2003 that number was 110.
	The figures for 2004 are not yet available. I expect publication in March 2005.

Fuel Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households are living in fuel poverty in Coventry.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 December 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 78W. This sets out how the fuel poverty figures for England are produced. Figures for 2001 for each of the Government Office for the Regions: 228,000 households were deemed to be in fuel poverty in the West Midlands area in that period. This data will be updated for 2003 and published in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy Third Annual Progress Report in 2005.

Fuel Poverty

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households are deemed to be in fuel poverty, broken down by local authority area.

Mike O'Brien: We are unable to provide a breakdown of the number of households in fuel poverty by local authority area.
	For the most recently available figures, I refer the hon. Member to the response which I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 78W. This sets out how the fuel poverty figures for England are produced, and gives figures for each Government Office Region.

Major Demonstration Project

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure there is no hiatus in funding availability between the expected ending of stream one funding under the Major Demonstration Project and the commencement of stream two funding.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 December 2004
	The DTI's Major Photovoltaic (PV) Demonstration Programme consists of two streams of funding. Stream one covers small scale individual installations between 0.5kWp and 5kWp—typically home-owners, small-medium sized enterprises, public sector organisations, e.g. schools, local authorities, and voluntary organisations/community groups. Stream 2 covers medium to large-scale installations between 5kWp and l00kWp—usually group housing (social and private), commercial, industrial and public sector buildings
	The DTI has listened to the calls for an extension of the Major PV Demonstration Programme to give sufficient time for the development of the proposed follow on "Low Carbon Buildings Programme" (as recommended in the Renewables Innovation Review: February 2004). On 15 September 2004 a further £6 million was announced to enable the programme to be extended for a further year until March 2006.

Nuclear Industry

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with British Energy concerning the future of the Hinckley Point B, Hunterston B, Heysham 2 and Torness nuclear plant.

Mike O'Brien: My officials have regular discussions with British Energy on a range of issues affecting the company. Any decisions concerning the future of British Energy's plants are a matter for the company within the overall regulatory framework.

Nuclear Industry

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the negative value is of assets being transferred from British Nuclear Fuels to the Nuclear Recommissioning Authority on 1 April 2005.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 December 2004
	The arrangements to transfer assts take effect on 1 April 2005 and do not amount to the transfer of assets with an overall negative value. Pending the outcome of the investigation announced by the European Commission (on 1 December) into state aid issues arising out of the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), arrangements will be put in place to ensure that no new state resources are made available to the NDA and no advantage is conferred on BNFL. These arrangements will include the transfer of BNFL's sites to the NDA and for sufficient funding for the NDA to be able to begin its operations on 1 April 2005.

Oil and Gas Supplies

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on the (a) UK (i) domestic consumption and (ii) economy and the (b) EU (A) domestic consumption and (B) economy of supplies of oil and gas which pass through Ukraine being stopped or interrupted.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 13 December 2004
	I am watching the situation closely. Although Ukraine is a transit state for gas supplies from Russia into the EU, there is significant gas storage capacity in the EU; in the short to medium term, therefore, there should be little impact on the availability of gas to final consumers in the EU or the UK
	The Ukraine is also an important transit state for oil supplies from Russia into the EU. There are no reports that these supplies have been disrupted. If, however, supplies were disrupted for a prolonged period a combination of increased production from other producers, relatively high EU industry oil stock levels, and, if necessary, the co-ordinated release of emergency oil stocks by International Energy Agency members would limit the impact on the availability of oil products to final consumers in the EU and UK. These measures would also limit the impact of any disruption on the oil price.

Premium Rate Service

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the progress of Ofcom's review of premium rate services.

Mike O'Brien: Premium Rate Services (PRS) are regulated by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS). Their Code of Practice is set in accordance with condition 120 of the Communications Act 2003, which stipulates that Ofcom can set conditions to control the activities of PRS providers by means of such a Code of Practice.
	The Government have discussed the issue of PRS dialler scams with ICSTIS and other stakeholders on several occasions over the summer and autumn. We have encouraged ICSTIS to take urgent action to deal with the problem. We have noticed some reduction in the number of complaints in the most recent months compared with the summer, although the problem remains significant.
	In the summer we asked Ofcom to review PRS regulation, and Ofcom published a report on 9 December. The main recommendations for changes fall into the following three areas.
	1. Improved Enforcement
	Faster and more effective ICSTIS sanctions, including the power to impose sanctions directly on telecoms companies who breach the rules, with enforceable fines to deter fraudsters.
	2. Consumer Redress
	More effective mechanisms for ensuring that defrauded customers can get their money back, preferably from the person or company that breached the ICSTIS Code of Practice.
	3. Consumer Information
	Consumers need to be better informed about the ways they can protect themselves against PRS scams. All the telecoms companies in the PRS industry should play a more proactive role in informing and educating their customers. ICSTIS should continue to play a role in advising and educating consumers about PRS scams and its budget should reflect the increased resources it will need in order to continue to perform such a role effectively.

Premium Rate Service

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking, in addition to the work being done by Ofcom and ICSTIS, to combat abuses of premium rate services, with particular reference to internet diallers.

Mike O'Brien: Ofcom's report from the review was published on 9 December. The Department's role in dealing with the internet diallers problem will be fulfilled through its representation on the steering group being set up to implement the recommendations in Ofcom's report.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the work of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management in compiling a national inventory of radioactive waste.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has no responsibility for, or involvement in, the compilation of the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory. This is completed jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and United Kingdom Nirex plc (Nirex). However, CoRWM has compiled inventory data relevant to its assessment of options for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste, and details of this are published on its website—www.corwm.org.uk.

Renewable Energy

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in respect of the recommendations of the Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution on Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source.

Mike O'Brien: The Government published their response to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on 15 October 2004 and have also launched the following further initiatives for assessing and developing biomass energy:
	A high level, one-year study of biomass energy is being undertaken by Sir Ben Gill, assisted by John Roberts, Chief Executive of United Utilities, and Nick Hartley of Oxera Consulting. The team will help Government and the biomass industry to address barriers and optimise the contribution which biomass energy can make.
	The Bio-energy Infrastructure scheme has been launched—this will provide additional support of £3.5 million for biomass supply chains.
	Planning Policy Statement 22 was issued in August, setting out a positive framework for renewable energy.
	An initial scoping study has been commissioned by DTI and Defra to quantify the benefits which might be gained from promoting renewable heat and the extent to which support may be required.
	Cambridge University has been commissioned to provide data on the economics of energy crops by April 2005.
	The Forestry Commission are commissioning a study of the environmental impacts of a wide range of species which might be used for short rotation forestry.
	In addition, the Non Food Crops Strategy was published in November and advice has been issued on the linkage between Energy Crops Scheme and Entry Level Scheme (subject to Commission approval).

Royal Mail (Performance Statistics)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce performance statistics for Royal Mail based on the first three letters and digits of the postcodes; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Royal Mail is required under the terms of its licence issued by Postcomm, the postal services regulator, to measure and publish its performance against agreed licence targets.
	Any additional measurement that may be undertaken to provide further detail is an operational and commercial decision for Royal Mail.

Sub-contractors

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has (a) to bring forward legislation to provide protection for sub-contractors from loss following a main contractor's liquidation and (b) to introduce civil liability for losses by sub-contractors where they have been induced or increased by the misuse of letters of comfort by the holding company of a liquidated main contractor; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Proposals have been made by Sir Michael Latham's review group as part of the Review of Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 to provide protection for sub-contractors from losses following a main contractor's liquidation. These are currently being considered by my Department, which will be issuing a consultation paper early next year.
	(b) There are no plans to legislate in this area.

Sub-contractors

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received in respect of the letters of comfort issued to sub-contractors immediately prior to liquidation of Ballast plc by its Dutch holding company; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No such representations have been made. Ballast plc went into administration in October 2003 following withdrawal of support from its Dutch parent. It did not go into liquidation until October 2004.

UK Trade and Investment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which businesses, associations and organisations have been consulted about the changes being discussed by UK Trade and Investment as a result of the 2004 Spending Review.

Douglas Alexander: Since the results of SR2004 were announced, UK Trade and Investment has been consulting widely with its stakeholders over potential changes to the services it provides. These stakeholders include regional development agencies, devolved Administrations, business members of its advisory panels and also those trade organisations accredited to organise supported overseas trade fairs, sectoral missions and seminar groups.

UK Trade and Investment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what budget UK Trade and Investments has set for funding for exhibitions in 2004; and what the budget for 2005 is expected to be.

Douglas Alexander: UK Trade and Investment's SESA scheme provides funding for overseas exhibitions, sectoral missions and seminars. The budget for the scheme for the financial year ending 31 March 2005 is £20 million. The budget for the financial year ending 31 March 2006 is £16 million. The exact budget split between exhibitions, sectoral missions and seminars is not fixed in advance. Exhibitions normally account for approximately 80 per cent. of the budget.

VAT-registered Businesses (Rhondda)

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many VAT registered enterprises there are in the constituency of the Rhondda.

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays data show that there were 1,900 business start-ups in the Rhondda, Cynon and Taff local authority (for which Rhondda is a constituency) and Merthyr Tydfil local authority combined in 2003. There were a further 900 in Rhondda, Cynon and Taff local authority in the first six months of 2004. Business start-up data for local authorities are not available for before 2003.
	Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003, a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. A further 288,000 business started up in England and Wales in the first six months of 2004. This represents an increase of 23 per cent. on the first six months of 2003.
	DTI figures based solely on the stock of businesses registered for VAT show that there were 3,725 businesses registered fro VAT in Rhondda, Cynon and Taff local authority (for which Rhondda is a constituency) at the start of 2004. There were 365 new VAT registrations in Rhondda, Cynon and Taff in 2003 1 .
	VAT stocks do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Only 1.8 million out of four million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.
	Source:
	1 Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 1994/2003, Small Business Service. www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php

Wind Farms

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of wind farms on tourism.

Mike O'Brien: While my Department has not made any specific assessment of the effects of wind farms on tourism, I am aware of a number of other assessments. From these there is no evidence to suggest that wind farms deter tourists, indeed some wind farms are themselves tourist attractions. For example, the UK's first commercial wind farm in Cornwall received 350,000 visitors in its first eight years of operation. In Swaffham, Norfolk, tourists queue to climb the wind turbine tower to the viewing platform at the top. In Scotland, a Mori poll was undertaken in 2002 regarding wind farms in the Argyll area. 80 per cent. of tourists said they would be interested in visiting a wind farm if it were open to the public with a visitor centre.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Battle of Trafalgar Commemorations

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what preparations are being made to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar.

Estelle Morris: The bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar is the inspiration for SeaBritain 2005, a national celebration of Britain's maritime heritage and links with the sea. SeaBritain 2005 is an initiative led by the National Maritime Museum, in partnership with many leading national and regional bodies, including VisitBritain, the Official Nelson Commemorations Committee, the Royal Navy and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	At the heart of SeaBritain 2005 is the Trafalgar Festival, with events throughout summer and autumn 2005 to mark the bicentenary. Highlights will include an International Fleet Review, Son et Lumière and firework display at Spithead in the Solent, an International Drumhead Ceremony on Southsea Common and an International Festival of the Sea at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, recreations of the delivery of Vice-Admiral Collingwood's Trafalgar Dispatch to London and Nelson's waterborne funeral procession from Greenwich to Whitehall, and commemorative tree-plantings for schools in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The climax of the Festival will be the Trafalgar Weekend of 21–23 October, with a commemorative dinner in HMS Victory on 21 October, a musical celebration of the Sea and the Battle of Trafalgar at the Royal Albert Hall on 22 October, and on 23 October, the Sea Cadets' parade in Trafalgar Square and services of commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral, where Nelson is buried, and St Nicholas's Church, Great Yarmouth, where he worshipped in 1801 on his return from the Battle of Copenhagen.
	The Trafalgar Festival will emphasise the involvement of young people, demonstrating to them the continuing importance of the sea to Britain and the richness of our maritime heritage. SeaBritain 2005 will encourage all to take part in the Festival or to develop their own events under its umbrella, with the aim of leaving a legacy that will stimulate interest in the sea and inland waters. Full details of all events planned as part of SeaBritain 2005, including the Trafalgar Festival, can be found on the SeaBritain website at www.SeaBritain2005.com. Details of the Navy Board's Trafalgar 200 events can be found at www.trafalgar200.com.

BBC

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the BBC's budget during the last four financial years came from (a) licence fee, (b) Government funding, (c) income from commercial enterprise and (d) other sources.

Estelle Morris: According to the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts, the following table shows what percentage of the BBC group's external income came from the licence fee, Government funding, income from commercial enterprises and other sources.
	
		
			  Total: Group external income (£ million)(10) Licence fee (percentage) Government funding(11) (percentage) Commercial services (percentage) Other (percentage) 
		
		
			 2001 3,164.5 74.9 5.7 17.5 1.8 
			 2002 3,382.9 74.8 5.6 17.9 1.7 
			 2003 3,532.0 75.3 5.7 17.7 1.3 
			 2004 3,705.9 75.5 6.0 17.4 1.1 
		
	
	(10) Includes contribution from Department for Work and Pensions for free television licence fee for over-75s:
	2001—£307.7 million, 2002—£350.0 million, 2003—£370.9 million, 2004—£407.8 million
	(11) World Service

Creative Partnerships/Culture Online

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed by (a) Creative Partnerships and (b) Culture Online; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the future of each body.

Estelle Morris: The information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  People currently employed Running costs 2003–04 (£) 
		
		
			 Creative Partnerships 116 4,521,000 
			 Culture Online (12)11.2 778,000 
		
	
	(12) Full-time equivalent (excluding three on maternity leave)

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many cases have been brought against her Department under the Human Rights Act 1998; and what the cost has been in (a) legal fees to defend cases and (b) compensation payments.

Richard Caborn: There have been two cases involving the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport founded wholly or chiefly on a claim for breach of the Human Rights Act 1998, one of which included the Secretary of State as a defendant and one as an interested party. One case was dismissed, the other withdrawn by consent. The total legal fees incurred were £14,167.30 including VAT.
	My Department's investigations have revealed one other case involving the Secretary of State where a claim for breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 was made but only in support of other causes of action. The legal fees incurred were £8,305.27 including VAT but it is not possible to apportion them between the different causes of action.

Family Planning Booklet

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether lottery funding was used in the publication of the Family Planning Association booklet, Girls Out Loud.

Estelle Morris: The Family Planning Association was awarded £55,000 by the community fund to produce educational materials to enable young women to make more informed decisions about their personal and sexual lives. Girls Out Loud consists of a video, and a handbook funded by the lottery grant and a further booklet called 4 Girls, which was originally paid for by the Department of Health, although this is now self-funding.

Staff Gyms

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many gyms are available to staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has one on site gym available to staff. The facility has recently been upgraded and the YMCA now manages the gym with members also benefiting from free access to the Central YMCA gym. The gym is funded through membership fees and the Department will meet the annual management fee of £60 per year per member. No figures will be available until the end of the first year's operation.

Park Refurbishment (Liverpool)

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant has been paid to Liverpool city council by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the refurbishment of the Victorian parks at Sefton, Newsham, Stanley and Botanic since 1997.

Richard Caborn: Since 1997, the Heritage Lottery Fund has made one award to parks in Liverpool. The award of £2,442,000 was made in 1998 to Liverpool city council for the restoration of the Grade II* listed Palm House in Sefton Park.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Contracted Professional Services

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost to his Department was of contracted professional services in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years.

Stephen Twigg: For the financial year 2002–03 I refer the hon. Member to the response given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 397–98W and the letter that was deposited in the Library in relation to this response.
	For the financial year 2003–04 my hon. Friend the Minister of the Cabinet Office has asked Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the cost of Ministerial vehicles provided to this Department in 2003–04.
	The costs of taxis could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

School Sport

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding has been allocated to sport in secondary schools for 2005–06 to develop potential medal winners for the 2012 Olympic games;
	(2)  what investment was made in secondary schools in advance of the 2004 Athens Olympics aimed at increasing the UK medal total;
	(3)  what investment into secondary schools is planned for 2005 with the intention of producing medal winners at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 13 December 2004
	As part of the national strategy for PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL), we are investing some £2 million per year into the development and support of very talented children and young people. This funding—which benefits pupils in primary and secondary schools—began in 2003–04 and will continue until at least 2007–08. It is part of the overall expenditure on the wider PESSCL programme of £459 million to 2006 to ensure that at least 75 per cent. of 5 to 16-year-olds have at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week. This target extends to 85 per cent. by 2008. An additional £686 million is being invested to improve school sports facilities across England. We will be announcing total funding for the next phase of PESSCL shortly.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Rwanda

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what recent assistance he has given to Rwanda.

Hilary Benn: DFID's assistance to Rwanda is helping the Government implement its Poverty Reduction Plan. Our commitment to Rwanda is £42 million for 2004–05 (two thirds is Poverty Reduction Budget Support). So far this financial year, we have spent £26.25 million, of which £20.25 million is Poverty Reduction Budget Support. Our commitment rises to £46 million for 2005–06.

Rwanda

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Rwanda; and what assistance his Department is giving to address it.

Mr. Thomas: The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Rwanda is estimated at 5.1 per cent. 1 A comprehensive national plan has been developed that aims to provide anti-retroviral therapies to all Rwandans by 2010.
	We have committed £8,700,000 to HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, focusing on capacity building and provision of anti-retroviral therapies. UK assistance is provided to the national co-ordinating body, UNAIDS, and the Ministry of Education, for anti-retroviral therapies to genocide survivors and for nationwide reduction and prevention activities.
	1 Source: UNAIDS

Palestinian Security Forces

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government are giving to, and what progress has been made with, the reform of Palestinian security forces.

Hilary Benn: The Government are working closely with the Palestinian Authority on security reform. We have helped set up operations rooms to co-ordinate security work and are providing both technical assistance and equipment.
	DFID is funding a police officer to help the Palestinian Authority reform the civil policing structures. We are also supporting a Central Intervention Force to provide security during the forthcoming election period. Progress is being made, but more could be done under the transitional government.

Northern Uganda

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian situation following the recent ceasefire in Northern Uganda.

Hilary Benn: The recent announcement of a ceasefire in part of northern Uganda and contact between a mediator and LRA commanders is welcome news. This has resulted in a reduction in violence in the north. As a result, humanitarian agencies are achieving greater access to the 1.6 million displaced people.
	The humanitarian situation is an emergency, but overall mortality and malnutrition rates suggest it is currently under control. Sustained improvements remain critically dependent on the conflict being resolved. We are, therefore, doing what we can to support peace efforts, as well as providing substantial humanitarian support, including a further contribution of £2 million to the World Food Programme agreed earlier this month.

Africa (Aid)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what plans he has for food aid to Africa.

Hilary Benn: DFID is in the process of assessing emergency food-aid needs in Africa for 2005. Most of DFID's food-aid support is channelled through the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
	DFID has been the fourth largest donor to WFP this year, with a commitment of nearly £50 million, of which 90 per cent. is targeted to Africa. DFID's contribution to emergency food aid needs for 2005 is likely to be comparable to 2004, should the humanitarian need remain proportional to 2004.
	Possible recipients of DFID food-aid support in 2005 include: Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Mauritania.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: Since the establishment of the transitional Government, we have expanded our bilateral development programme in DRC, which stands at £34 million this year. On top of humanitarian assistance, our support is focused on four main areas, as long as the peace process remains on track:
	the establishment of basic security and rule of law;
	the establishment of a functioning state;
	the reconstruction of the country and the fight against HIV/AIDS;
	the transparent management of natural resources.
	We will also be supporting these areas, and others, through our contributions to the European Union, the World Bank and the United Nations.

Balkans

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on donor co-ordination in the Balkans.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The large volumes of development assistance that have been and continue to be provided in the Balkans have not been well co-ordinated, either by donors or governments. The region lags behind international best practice on donor harmonisation. However, some progress is now being made and the UK is making an important contribution to improving the effectiveness of aid in the region. In Albania, Bosnia and Serbia, we are helping to strengthen the governments' ability to manage external assistance. We are also promoting better donor co-ordination within the international community to ensure that development assistance provided for poverty reduction is well co-ordinated with support provided for European integration.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many new investments have been made by CDC in the past 12 months; and what percentage by value were made in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hilary Benn: CDC funds were invested in 34 new investments, of which 53 per cent. by value were in sub-Saharan Africa.

Eritrea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the predicted number of people depending on food aid in 2005 in Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UN Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for 2005 estimates that 2.2 million people are in need of emergency food aid assistance. Initial feedback from the recent Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Food Programme Crop Assessment Mission to Eritrea is that the harvest for 2004 is likely to be similar or slightly less than last year. Last year's harvest was only 45 per cent. of the average harvest for the previous five years. The UN CAP is for $158 million, of which, $144 million is specifically for food aid.

Eritrea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the current stores of food aid (a) situated in and (b) readily available to organisations distributing aid in Eritrea; what estimate he has made of the adequacy of these stores to meet food aid requirements for 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Current stores of food aid in Eritrea amount to 149,000 mt. 102,000 mt is held by the Government of Eritrea which includes donations from bilateral donors—US, Japan and the EU, the remaining 47,000 mt has been donated by the World Food Programme (WFP). The UN Consolidated Appeal identifies a national food deficit for 2005 of 505,000 mt and of this, 384,000 mt is required in the form of emergency food assistance. Eritrea has a good road network, but fuel shortages are currently limiting the distribution capacity of a number of organisations.
	DFID contributed £1 million to the WFP food aid operations in Eritrea in 2004. Sufficient food aid is available for operations in the first part of 2005; further contributions may be required later in the year. DFID stands ready to provide further assistance if this is required in the coming year.

Eritrea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has (a) funded and (b) managed in conjunction with the Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has no history of direct funding support for or managing projects in conjunction with Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission (ERREC). DFID addresses the same aims and needs as identified by ERREC through supporting international NGOs with whom we have a track record and whom we believe can deliver effectively. NGOs in Eritrea work closely with ERREC.

Eritrea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals his Department has (a) made and (b) implemented since 1997 for projects aimed at the (i) minimisation and (ii) halting of soil erosion in Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has funded several local NGO projects through its Small Grant Scheme for Eritrea which is managed by the British embassy in Asmara. Projects have focused on tree planting, water conservation management, and improving the efficiency of Mogodo (wood burning) stoves. No larger scale programmes are currently envisaged as DFID's programme budget for Eritrea is used to support emergency humanitarian assistance based on need.

Eritrea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the (A) US Administration and (B) Italian government since 1998 regarding (1) food aid, (2) development and (3) debt relief to Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Discussions with members of the US administration and the Italian Government have been held during donor group meetings in Asmara and with EC wide groups regarding humanitarian and development assistance. There have been no separate bilateral discussions. The UK has not had any discussions over the issue of debt relief. Eritrea does not qualified as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) under the original level of indebtedness criterion and has not come to the Paris Club for a treatment of its debts.

Ottawa Convention on Landmines

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution in terms of (a) speakers and (b) resources his Department made to the International Conference reviewing the 1997 Ottawa Convention on Landmines held in December in Nairobi; and if he will place in the Library the final declaration of the Review Conference.

Hilary Benn: The Review Conference for the Mine Ban Treaty recently held in Nairobi was attended by a UK delegation comprising of officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence. The Head of the UK Delegation, Mr. John Freeman, the UK Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva gave the UK statement.
	The cost to the UK of supporting the arrangements for the conference is based on our assessed contributions to the United Nations and amounted to approximately £19,500.
	DFID also contributed to the costs of bringing delegates from poorer mine affected countries via our financial support to the sponsorship scheme which was set up under the Convention to assist these countries. Over the past 12 months DFID has provided £16,660 to this scheme.
	A copy of the final Declaration will be lodged in Parliament when it has been formally agreed.

Parliamentary Questions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what target his Department sets for the maximum acceptable time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of answers given by his Department failed to meet this target in each parliamentary session from 1997–98 to 2003–04.

Hilary Benn: DFID aims to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their Named Day question on the named day and endeavour to answer Ordinary Written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but DFID makes every effort to achieve these timescales.
	We are unable to give accurate figures on how many Parliamentary Questions did not meet the deadline for the years asked without incurring disproportionate cost.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004;
	(2)  if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Hilary Benn: All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Special Advisers.
	DFID special advisers have not given any attributable articles or contributions to newspapers, journals, books or any other media between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Sudan

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Sudan.

Hilary Benn: After 23 years of conflict the UN social indicators in Sudan continue to be among the lowest in the world. With four million displaced people, large areas of the country continue to need life-saving and life-sustaining assistance. Continuing conflict has accounted for persistently high levels of poverty, as agricultural production is disrupted and people are displaced. The UN has appealed for $1.48 billion to meet needs in Sudan in 2005.
	In Darfur the humanitarian situation remains precarious, Over 1.8 million have been displaced and on-going insecurity hampers delivery of humanitarian assistance. Since September 2004 the UK allocated £62.5 million to Darfur.

Sudan

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on humanitarian aid being provided in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Hilary Benn: The 2004 UN appeal for Darfur is $368 million. The UK is the second biggest bilateral donor to this. Since September 2003 we have allocated £62.5 million in response to the crisis. We are channelling funds through the UN, Red Cross and NGOs. We also provide 19 per cent. of the EC's assistance—of which the total for Darfur so far is €125 million.
	We will sustain our commitment to meeting humanitarian needs across Sudan through the allocation of £100 million next year. Our aim is to consolidate the humanitarian response by improving the quality of service delivery and expanding operations into remote areas.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Regional Government

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what (a) polling, (b) focus group research and (c) other measures of public opinion were undertaken by the Electoral Commission since June 2003 in relation to (i) the regional referendum in the North East and (ii) preparation for the referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Peter Viggers: I am advised by the Electoral Commission that it has used polling, focus groups and other public opinion research in fulfilling a number of its statutory duties in relation to regional referendums.
	To assist the Commission in fulfilling its statutory duty to comment on the proposed local government referendum questions, interviews were conducted with members of the public across the three regions to gauge public reaction to the local government referendum questions and the draft ballot pack.
	As part of the Commission's statutory role in encouraging voting at the referendums, the Commission organised focus groups across the three regions to help design its public information campaign. This work was carried out before the postponement of the referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. For the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the Commission's advertising campaign, an initial public opinion survey was undertaken across the three regions in June. The second and third waves of interviews in conjunction with this evaluation, held in September and November, took place in the North East only.
	To inform its statutory report on the North East referendum, now expected to be published by the autumn of 2005, the Commission is currently working in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Council on a public opinion survey in that region; it is also arranging focus groups and other interviews.

Regional Government

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the total cost was of the activities performed by the Electoral Commission in connection with (a) the regional referendum in the North East and (b) preparation for the referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Peter Viggers: I am advised by the Electoral Commission that it is difficult to make a definitive assessment of the cost of activities performed in preparation for the postponed referendums in the North West and in Yorkshire and the Humber separately from those in preparation for the referendum in the North East.
	Total Commission expenditure in relation to these referendums is expected to be £4.07 million. Of this, approximately £470,000 was incurred before the referendums in the North West and in Yorkshire and the Humber were postponed at the end of July.
	The Electoral Commission plans to include a full breakdown and analysis of expenditure in preparation for the three regional referendums, and in fulfilling its responsibilities in relation to the referendum in the North East, in its statutory report on that referendum. The Commission now expects to publish this report by the autumn of 2005.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Bins

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will introduce separate bins in offices and communal areas across the parliamentary estate for the disposal of (a) plastic waste and (b) compostable waste.

Archy Kirkwood: At present the recycling of plastic waste is not a viable option for the parliamentary estate. Plastic waste is not produced in sufficient amounts to be attractive to waste contractors and recyclers, although this may change in the future. Other than garden waste, waste is not currently composted. Any waste containing a meat product requires rendering and this does not make composting a viable option for the parliamentary estate.

Energy Use

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what targets have been set for sourcing energy from renewable sources on the parliamentary estate; and if he will make a statement.

Archy Kirkwood: The target is to obtain at least 10 per cent. of the electricity for the parliamentary estate from renewable sources. At present 11 per cent. is so supplied.

Energy Use

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what measures have been taken to ensure that honourable Members and staff do not leave computers and other electrical office equipment on the parliamentary estate on or on stand-by mode overnight and during weekends and other non-working days.

Archy Kirkwood: Publicity issued by the Energy Savers Group encourages computer users to switch off equipment out of working hours. Agreement has been reached with the Parliamentary Communications Directorate for new computers to be set to go into hibernate mode during any long periods out of use.

Photocopying Facilities

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what measures are being taken to ensure that photocopying facilities on the parliamentary estate are not used by members or staff for either personal or party campaigning use.

Archy Kirkwood: The regulations, approved by the Administration Committee, state that the photocopiers provided for use by Members and staff are "intended for use in connection with Members' parliamentary duties only, and may not be used for Party political or non-parliamentary work outside Parliament." Serjeant at Arms' staff will take appropriate action if they detect any abuse, or if alleged abuse is drawn to their attention.

Water Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, 
	(1)  what targets have been set on reducing water usage on the parliamentary estate; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures are being taken to encourage the conservation of water resources on the parliamentary estate;
	(3)  if he will introduce measures to improve the conservation of water resources on the parliamentary estate by upgrading washing and toilet facilities so that water is only used when necessary, and facilities do not continue to consume water automatically during weekends and other non-working days.

Archy Kirkwood: The Commission's overall target is to reduce water usage. Urinal cisterns are fitted with detectors to prevent unnecessary automatic flushing; other cisterns have flush volume reduction devices or dual flush equipment; and improvements have been made at Portcullis House so that less water is drawn from the boreholes. The Energy Savers Group is charged with encouraging economical use of water. Water economy measures compete with energy saving investments for the annual conservation budget.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Age Prejudice

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation was carried out with (a) those seeking employment and (b) those involved in advising people in finding employment within the framework of the Government's consultation, Equality and Diversity: Age Matters; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have consulted widely on age issues and proposals for legislation in two consultation exercises, including Age Matters. We received over 400 responses, including responses from a wide range of voluntary organisations and trade unions as well as individuals.

Disabled People (Scotland)

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Department is on target to 2006 to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities in (a) Scotland and (b) Midlothian.

Maria Eagle: The information is only available for Great Britain.
	The Public Service Agreement target, covering the period from spring 2003 to spring 2006, aims to 'increase the employment rate of disabled people and reduce the difference between their employment rate and the overall employment rate'.
	On current trends we should meet this target as the employment rate of disabled people has increased steadily in recent years: from 43.4 per cent. in spring 1998 to 48.9 per cent. in spring 2003 and 50.1 per cent. in spring 2004. In the same period the employment gap fell from 29.8 per cent. (spring 1998) to 25.6 per cent. (spring 2003) to 24.6 per cent. (spring 2004).

Housing Benefit

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has further to promote the housing benefit extended payment scheme.

Chris Pond: Giving advice and information on the support available to customers is a key part of the Jobcentre Plus personal advisers' role, this includes advice on eligibility for housing benefit extended payments. We believe that these arrangements work well, but will keep them under review.
	From April 2004, the extended payment scheme was widened to include those in receipt of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance.

Jobcentre Plus

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the time taken to process the average benefits claim at Eston Jobcentre Plus was in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03;
	(2)  how many personal advisers are allocated to (a) Eston Jobcentre Plus and (b) the other areas of Redcar constituency.

Chris Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the my hon. and learned Friend.
	Letter from David Anderson to Ms Vera Baird, dated 15 December 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the time taken to process benefit claims at Eston Jobcentre Plus and the number of Personal Advisers allocated to Eston Jobcentre Plus and other areas of Redcar constituency not covered by Eston Jobcentre Plus. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The time taken to process a claim to benefit is shown as the Average Actual Clearance Times (AACT).
	The Jobseeker's Allowance AACT information for Eston, expressed in days, is as follows:
	
		
			 Period Number of days 
		
		
			 2002–03 10.6 
			 2003–04 18.1 
		
	
	The AACT figures for Income Support (IS) in Eston are only available as part of the Middlesbrough Site information, which is an average of the performance achieved in the 9 Jobcentre/Jobcentre Plus service delivery sites in Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar/Cleveland. This is because IS processing for all sites in the Tees Valley area is centralised in Middlesbrough.
	The IS AACT information for the Middlesbrough Site, expressed in days, is as follows:
	
		
			 Period Number of days 
		
		
			 2002–03 8.9 
			 2003–04 7.4 
		
	
	The number of Personal Advisers (PAs) allocated to the offices within the Redcar constituency are as follows:
	
		
			 Office Eston Redcar Loftus Guisborough 
		
		
			 Number of PAs 
			 Whole-time equivalents 7.29 9.09 3 5.6 
			 Actual staff numbers 8 10 3 6 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

National Insurance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2004, Official Report, columns 43–44W, on contracted-out rebates, what his assumptions are of the number of people who are contracted out in 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: pursuant to his reply, 6 December 2004, Official Report, c. 377W
	The information is in the table:
	
		Million
		
			 Type of scheme Number of people contracted out in 2004–05 
		
		
			 Contracted-out Salary Related Scheme 7.0 
			 Contracted-out Money Purchase Scheme 0.6 
			 Contracted-out Mixed Benefit Scheme  
			 Appropriate Personal Pension Scheme 3.1 
			 Total (13)10.7 
		
	
	(13) Numbers do not sum to total due to rounding to the nearest hundred thousand.
	Notes:
	1. The estimates are based on the numbers contracted-out in 2000–01, the latest year for which information is available; they are for Great Britain and are consistent with those used by the Government Actuary to estimate the cost of the rebate for the 2004 pre-Budget report.
	2. The numbers are based on those shown in the departmental publication "Second-Tier Pension Provision" published in March 2004 but exclude:
	(a) data for Northern Ireland as estimates for the pre-Budget report are based on Great Britain only; and
	(b) people earning below the lower earnings limit.

Parliamentary Questions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what target his Department sets for the maximum acceptable time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of answers given by his Department failed to meet this target in each parliamentary Session from 1997–98 to 2003–04.

Maria Eagle: We aim to ensure that hon. Members receive a substantive response to their named day questions on the day named and endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but we make every effort to achieve these timescales.
	The Department for Work and Pensions was formed at the start of the 2001–02 parliamentary Session. Information about our performance is in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage of all questions answered within: 
			 Session 5 working days 10 working days Percentage of named day questions answered on the named day 
		
		
			 2001–02 26 54 53 
			 2002–03 37 68 51 
			 2003–04 43 74 73

Telephone Costs

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what measures he has taken to ensure the telephones in his Department are not used by staff making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers;
	(2)  what his policy is on the use of telephones in his Department by members of staff for their personal use relating to (a) domestic calls and (b) international calls; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The telephone systems used in the Department for Work and Pensions are installed to standards which allow the control, or "barring" of access to a detailed list of known "non Business" numbers. For example, premium rate chat line numbers etc. This barring is also used to restrict access to international numbers to a limited number of telephones on business need. These telephones can be monitored either through the use of itemised call reports or billing information.
	The allocation and monitoring of such telephone extensions is held at a local level.
	My Department's policy on the use of telephones allows DWP staff to use the telephone system for local personal calls with the agreement of their manager. They may also be allowed to make long distance calls but will be expected to pay for them. This is covered in the Department's Standards of Behaviour policy.
	Misuse of official telephones is normally classified as minor misconduct under the Department's disciplinary policy.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what the total cost to the Duchy was for accountancy services in each of the last two years;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by the Duchy administration in each of the last two years.

Alan Milburn: Expenditure on accountancy services for the last two accounting years by the Duchy of Lancaster amounted to £25,454 for 2003–04 and £22,389 for 2002–03.
	Energy costs incurred by the Duchy of Lancaster administration were £8,719 for 2003–04 and £6,370 in 2002–03.
	The Duchy of Lancaster is not a Government Department and as such not supported by public funds. Formal accounts are prepared annually and placed in the Library of both Houses of Parliament and I would refer the hon. Member to these.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total cost to the Duchy was for the use of external consultants in each of the last two years.

Alan Milburn: The Duchy of Lancaster utilises a number of professional advisers but does not employ consultants as defined within Government guidelines.

Equal Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the difference was between average (a) men's and (b) women's salaries at each grade, band or salary range, broken down by (i) national and (ii) London rates, in each Department at the latest date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: I have today placed in the Library a table which shows the mean salary for men and women, and the difference between these, by responsibility level; National and London areas. Figures are based on 1 April 2004 Civil Service Statistics data and are grouped by Major Departments. Civil Service Statistics are available in the Library and on our website at www.civilservice.gov.uk/managementinformation/statisticalinformation/statistics/in dex.asp

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if she will list the attributable interviews that the Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004;
	(2)  if she will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that the Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Ruth Kelly: The Cabinet Office's special advisers gave no attributable interviews to newspapers, journals, books or other media, nor did they contribute articles or make other contributions in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.
	All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 Cabinet Office special advisers travelled (a) domestically and (b) abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Ruth Kelly: In the financial year 2003–04, Cabinet Office Special Advisers did not make any visits overseas in an official capacity.
	Within the UK Special Advisers will on occasion accompany their Ministers on official visits.
	Information on such visits and their cost is not separately identifiable and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the "Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code".

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether Cabinet Office Special Advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997.

Ruth Kelly: Special Advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether Cabinet Office Special Advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997.

Ruth Kelly: Any speeches made by Special Advisers in an official capacity are conducted in accordance with the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

HEALTH

Cancer (North-west)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of cancer in the North West.

Melanie Johnson: The national health service is no longer divided into regions. However, we have made real progress to reorganise and rejuvenate cancer services so that we compare with the best in Europe. The NHS is delivering better treatment, more quickly, to more people than ever before and there are thousands of people alive and well who would not be without these improvements.
	Since April 2001, an additional 250,000 women have been invited to be screened in England as a result of the expansion of the breast screening service to 65 to 70-year-old women. In England, 99.3 per cent. of people with suspected cancer are now seen by a specialist within two weeks of being referred by their general practitioner.
	Over 1,100 of the most modern pieces of equipment to diagnose and treat cancer have been delivered to hospitals since April 2000 through central programmes, with a further 200 more in the pipeline.

Commission for Healthcare Improvement

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what additional resources are being made available to the Commission for Healthcare Improvement to reduce the length of time it is taking to obtain decisions on appeals referred to the Commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if, when he next meets the Chairman of the Commission for Healthcare Improvement, he will impress upon him the need to speed up decisions on healthcare reviews.

John Hutton: The Healthcare Commission took on its role in handling the independent review stage of the national health service complaints process at the end of July 2004. I understand from the chairman of the Commission that, since then, it has received more requests for independent review than planned for.
	The Commission will be increasing its capacity appropriately to deal with the level of referrals.

Cosmetic Surgery

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the maximum waiting time is for cosmetic surgery on the NHS;
	(2)  what criteria are used to decide whether (a) plastic and (b) cosmetic surgery is urgent; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Surgery may be carried out in the national health service to correct or treat disfigurements or deformity, or to restore form and function. Typical causes include congenital defects, trauma and cancer. This is usually termed plastic surgery. Urgency is a matter for clinical decision on a case-by-case basis. Operations carried out purely for beautification purposes with no underlying clinical need are usually termed cosmetic surgery and are not provided in the NHS.
	The maximum waiting time target for all inpatient specialties, including plastic surgery, is nine months and this will fall to six months by the end of 2005.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to inform hon. Members of the cost of augmented Criminal Records Bureau checks carried out by primary care trusts on medical performers; and how many medical performers have been discovered to have failed such checks.

John Hutton: The cost of carrying out enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosures on general practitioners is likely to be in the region of £1,115,000. Information is not kept centrally on the number of GPs whose criminal record might bring into question their continuance on medical performers' lists.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what documents a medical performer must show to a local primary care trust to pass the augmented Criminal Records Bureau check.

John Hutton: To apply for a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check, general practitioners need to complete an application form for a disclosure. They also need to produce documents to verify their identity to the primary care trust, which countersigns the application to the CRB.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the (a) cost to and (b) time taken by primary care trusts in Somerset in ensuring that all medical performers have an augmented check.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on whose authority the decision was taken to check that all medical performers had been cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Hutton: It was under the authority of the Secretary of State that the decision was taken that all general practitioners working in the national health service should be cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Food Supplements Industry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research he has recently (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of the (i) Food Supplements Directive and (ii) Traditional Herbal Medicines Directive on the British food supplements industry; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will seek to negotiate a derogation from (a) the Food Supplements Directive and (b) the Traditional Herbal Medicines Directive.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam, Mr. Burstow, on 6 December, Official Report, columns 351–2W.
	A partial regulatory impact assessment on the Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products (Directive 2004/24/EC) was published by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2003. Work is in progress to update this assessment in the light of detailed ongoing discussions about implementation of this directive between the MHRA and the herbal forum, representing United Kingdom manufacturers' trade associations operating in the herbal sector. An aim of this discussion is to contain the regulatory burden on industry consistent with the protection of public health and compliance with the requirements of the directive.
	The Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products relates only to herbal products that are classified as medicines and does not affect the regulation of food supplements. During the negotiations, the UK achieved key priorities as identified in discussions between the MHRA and stakeholders. These included the possibility, for which the UK health food sector had pressed, for simplified registration under the directive of traditional herbal medicines containing ancillary vitamins and minerals. Currently such medicines require a full marketing authorisation. Additionally, to allow companies time to adjust to the new requirements, there is a seven-year transitional period starting in April 2004 before herbal medicines that were legally on the market at that date are required to comply with the directive. We have no plans to seek derogation from the terms of this directive.

General Practitioners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients there were for each general practitioner in Ribble Valley and Fulwood on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Average list size of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 for Preston Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT -- As at 30 September 2003Numbers (headcount)
		
			  
		
		
			 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley  PCT Preston PCT 5G7 57 113,816 1,997 
			 Preston PCT 5HD 73 144,080 1,974 
		
	
	(14) UPEs include general medical service unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted general practitioners and PMS salaried GPs.
	Note:
	Patient data has been revised from previously published figures.
	Souce:
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics

General Practitioners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are per head of population in each of the primary care trusts in the Ribble Valley and Fulwood constituency.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums)(15) for Preston primary care trust (PCT) and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT per 100,000 weighted population—as at 30 September 2003 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			   General medical practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums)(15)  Weighted population General medical practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums)(15) per 100,000 weighted population 
		
		
			 Preston PCT 5HD 85 140,359 60.6 
			 Hyndburn and Ribble  Valley PCT 5G7 68 117,236 58.0 
		
	
	(15) All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) include general medical service practitioners and personal medical service practitioners.
	Sources:
	1. Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	2. Department of Health Populations adjusted for age and need using the GMS Non-Cash Limited component of the weighted capitation formula

Health Funding

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) delivered and (b) approved publicly-funded capital projects in the health sector in East Birmingham since 2001, broken down by estimated capital value.

Stephen Ladyman: Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority reports that the main publicly funded capital schemes for the three national health service organisations covering East Birmingham are as follows:
	
		Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust
		
			  Scheme Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 2001–02 Arden Leigh medium secure unit 500 
			 2002–03 Arden Leigh medium secure unit 11,911 
			 2003–04 Arden Leigh medium secure unit 5,860 
			  George and Elizabeth wards refurbishment 1,422 
			  Small health in-patient facility (completed) 450 
			 2004–05 Arden Leigh medium secure unit (completion) 800 
			  George and Elizabeth wards refurbishment (completion) 450 
		
	
	In addition, the trust has an annual capital allocation for maintenance, etc, of £2 million.
	
		East Birmingham Primary Care Trust
		
			  Scheme Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 2002–03 None — 
			 2003–04 Total capital programme includes: 1,529 
			  redevelopment of Stockland Green health centre  585 
			  upgrading of Pearl GP premises 200 
			 2004–05 Castle Vale new health centre 3,300 
		
	
	The PCT came into existence in 2002–03
	
		Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust (Teaching)
		
			  Scheme Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 2001–02 Total capital programme includes: 11,768 
			  Medical wards development project 6,758 
			  Pathology modernisation 619 
			 2000–03 Total capital programme includes: 10,960 
			  Yardley Green transfer 3,260 
			  Medical Wards Phase 2 1,220 
			  Renal Expansion 979 
			  Day Surgery Hospital 856 
			  Sterilisation of Instruments 779 
			 2003–04 Total capital programme includes: 9,612 
			  Audiology replacement 1,308 
			  CAT scanner 525 
			 2004–05 Total capital programme includes: 12,269 
			  Audiology replacement 1,192 
			  MRI scanner 868

Hospital Cleaning Audit

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the criteria assessed by patient environment action teams when devising scores for cleanliness in hospitals.

John Hutton: A copy of the 2005 assessment form to be used by patient environment action teams has been placed in the Library.
	The final score is determined by reference to the assessment, but involves a weighting process that places greater emphasis on those aspects relating to cleanliness on wards, toilets and bathrooms and accident emergency and other departments, such as outpatients.

Hospital Trusts (Star Rating)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the star ratings system for NHS hospital trusts.

John Hutton: The independent Healthcare Commission is responsible for national health service performance ratings and has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce a new health check for the NHS. This will continue to provide an annual rating of performance of NHS trusts.

Hospital Trusts (Star Rating)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors are taken into account when a NHS hospital trust is being assessed under the star ratings system; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The independent Healthcare Commission is responsible for developing and producing the national health service performance ratings. Details of how this will be done for 2004–05 will be posted on the Healthcare Commission's website at www.healthcarecommission.org.uk later this month.

Lyme Disease

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research he is undertaking into Lyme disease and its treatment;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to raise awareness of Lyme disease among healthcare professionals;
	(3)  how many reports of Lyme disease there have been in England in each year since 1986; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to improve the treatment and management of Lyme disease within the national health service.

Melanie Johnson: Surveillance of Lyme disease has been in place in England and Wales since 1986, and was enhanced in 1996 to provide a more complete clinical picture.
	A total of 2,199 reports of Lyme disease were received between 1986 and 2003. Around 20 per cent., of these cases are known to have been acquired abroad.
	
		
			  Total reports received 
		
		
			 1986 to 1992 227 
			 1993 to 1996 235 
			 1997 to 2000 803 
			 2001 261 
			 2002 340 
			 2003 (provisional data) 330 
		
	
	Advice to doctors about the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease are readily available. Highly sensitive tests for the detection of Lyme disease are readily available and accessible across the national health service. Public health officials in areas such as the New Forest, where the risks of being bitten by an infected tick are highest, have made their local general practitioners aware of relevant symptoms.
	Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, usually doxycycline or amoxicillin and early treatment usually clears the initial rash within several days and helps to prevent the development of complications. More serious symptoms also respond to antibiotic treatment. Detailed studies have shown excellent long-term outcomes for most people who receive appropriate treatment. Guidance on the treatment of Lyme disease is available on the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) website: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/zoonoses/lyme_borreliosis/faq.htm
	Workshops organised jointly by the Department of Health, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the HPA were held in 2001 and 2002 to further raise awareness of healthcare professionals. These workshops brought together leading experts on the disease.
	Following the completion of eight research projects investigating aspects of Lyme disease, the latest being in 1999, the Department is not currently undertaking research into Lyme disease.

National Programme for IT

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local contracts were cancelled following his Department's decision to make Picture Archiving and Communications Systems a core service within the National Programme for Information Technology; and at what cost.

John Hutton: holding answer on 14 December 2004
	None.

NHS Professionals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to date of NHS Professionals.

John Hutton: NHS Professionals was initially allocated £7 million to support the start up of pilot sites. A further £24 million was invested in 2002–03 and £23.2 million in 2003–04. £26.6 million was allocated to support the establishment of the new special health authority for 2004–05.
	The investment included a total of over £6.1 million during the financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04 to support the flexible careers scheme managed by NHS Professionals before the special health authority was established.

NHS Staff (Pharmaceutical Company Funding)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing posts in the NHS are funded by pharmaceutical companies, broken down by trust and the companies involved.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Nurse Numbers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 559W, on nurse numbers, on what (a) estimates and (b) timescales he bases his expectation of further significant increases.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 December 2004
	It is for national health Service organisations to determine the number of nurses needed locally.
	The number of students entering training to become a nurse or midwife has increased by 62 per cent, since 1996–97. Combined with international recruitment, return to practice and the increasing numbers of newly qualified nurses, we expect to see increases in the nursing workforce.

Out-of-hours Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what problems have been encountered by primary care trusts which have not yet been able to finalise their arrangements for out-of-hours care under the new general medical services contract;
	(2)  what steps he will take after the end of the year in respect of primary care trusts that have not yet finalised their arrangements for out-of-hours care under the new general medical services contract;
	(3)  how many primary care trusts his Department estimated would have finalised their arrangements for out-of-hours care under the new general medical services contract by the current month;
	(4)  how many primary care trusts (a) have finalised their arrangements for out-of-hours care under the new general medical services contract, (b) are in the process of finalising their arrangements and (c) have indicated that they will have problems implementing new arrangements by the end of the current year.

John Hutton: Under the new primary care contracts, general practitioner practices may choose to transfer responsibility for out-of-hours services to their primary care trust (PCT), with the agreement of their PCTs. From 1 January 2005, this will become a right.
	Strategic health authorities (SHAs) have responsibility for performance managing PCTs to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place and, if the transition is delayed, that appropriate action is taken to ensure a quality out-of-hours service is available.
	The information requested is not collected centrally. However, unvalidated information volunteered by SHAs indicates that some 275 PCTs have finalised arrangements for out-of-hours services and that 21 are in the process of doing so, or have yet formally to commence their commissioning role. No PCTs have indicated that they will have problems implementing their new roles.

Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts with his Department have been won by subsidiaries of Halliburton in each year from 1997; what the terms were of each contract; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: No private finance initiative or public private partnership contracts with the Department have been won by subsidiaries of Halliburton.

Public Bodies

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the membership is of the (a) Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding Stuffs, (b) the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, (c) the Advisory Committee on Research, (d) the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food, (e) the Beef Assurance Scheme Membership Panel, (f) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, (g) the Consumer Committee, (h) the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals and (i) the Meat Hygiene Advisory Committee; what the (i) cost of salaries and expenses to members and (ii) running cost was of each body in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff are employed to service each body.

Melanie Johnson: The membership of the Food Standards Agency's Committees is as follows:
	Membership of the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs is:
	Dr Chitra Bharucha (Chairman)
	Dr Dozie Azubike
	Dr Paul Brantom
	Dr Ian Brown
	Professor Andrew Chesson
	Dr Bruce Cottrill
	Professor Julie Fitzpatrick
	Dr Nigel Halford
	Ms Diane McCrea
	Dr Helen Raine
	Richard Scales
	Dr Nigel Shepperson
	Dr Colin Stewart
	Marcus Themans
	Membership of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes is:
	Professor Mike Gasson (Chairman)
	Miss Jill Brand
	Professor Ruth Chadwick
	Dr Hilary Close
	Mr Neville Craddock
	Professor Phil Dale
	Professor James Dunwell
	Professor Gary Foster
	Dr John Fowler
	Dr Peter Lund
	Professor Alan Malcolm
	Dr Clive Meredith
	Professor Ian Rowland
	Professor John Warner
	Dr Anthony Williams
	Membership of the Advisory Committee on Research is:
	Professor Michael Lean (Chairman)
	Dr Paul Brantom
	Professor Duncan Maskell
	Professor Richard Moody
	Professor William Donachie
	Professor Stuart Slorach
	Professor Christopher Ritson
	Dr Ann Richardson
	Ms Tanya Heasman
	Professor Anne Murcott
	Ms Diane McCrea
	Professor Alastair Robertson
	Dr Peter McClure
	Membership of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food is:
	Bill Reilly (Chairman)
	Mr John Bassett
	Dr David Brown
	Ms Sue Davies
	Professor Mike Gasson
	Dr Katherine Hadley
	Professor Tom Humphrey
	Professor Paul Hunter
	Mr Alec Kyriakides
	Ms Eva Lewis
	Mr Paul McMullin
	Mr Philip Mepham
	Professor Sarah O'Brien
	Mr Brian Pierce
	Mr David Piccaver
	Professor Laura Piddock
	Dr Quentin Sandifer
	Professor Peter Williams
	The Beef Assurance Scheme membership Panel was not convened during 2003–04.
	Membership of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is:
	Professor IA Hughes (Chairman)
	Professor A Boobis
	Dr P Carthew
	Professor JK Chipman
	Dr J Hinson
	Dr P Jackson
	Dr M Joffe
	Professor J Lunec
	Dr A Piersma
	Professor D Ray
	Professor I R Rowland
	Dr L Rushton
	Ms J Salfield
	Dr A G Smith
	Dr L Stanley
	Professor S Strobel
	Dr M Tucker
	Miss A Ward
	Membership of the Consumer Committee is:
	Nancy Robson (Chair)
	Alison Childs
	Thomas Chan
	John Godfrey
	Julie Friend
	Jeanette Longfield
	Sinéad Furey
	Emma Copeland
	Sue Dibb
	Lindsey Kearton
	Lucy Gillie
	The Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals was formally wound up in May 2003.
	The Meat Hygiene Advisory Committee was formally wound up in October 2004.
	Members of these committees do not receive salaries but are paid an attendance fee, a preparation fee and expenses for each meeting they attend. The costs and staff numbers are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Name of Committee Salary and expenses (£)(16) Running costs (£)   Number of staff 
		
		
			 Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding Stuffs 28,000 17,000 6 
			 Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes 18,500 35,500 Departmental staff service this body alongside a range of other duties but it is not possible to identify their numbers separately 
			 Advisory Committee on Research 10,000 8,000 Departmental staff service this body alongside a range of other duties but it is not possible to identify their numbers separately 
			 Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food 20,504 24,730 3.5 
			 Beef Assurance Scheme Membership Panel 0 0 0 
			 Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment 30,000 80,000 Departmental staff service this body alongside a range of other duties but it is not possible to identify their numbers separately 
			 Consumer Committee 10,246 20,270 Departmental staff service this body alongside a range of other duties but it is not possible to identify their numbers separately 
			 Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals 0 (17)26,000 Departmental staff service this body alongside a range of other duties but it is not possible to identify their numbers separately 
			 Meat Hygiene Advisory Committee 9,177 25,875 Departmental staff service this body alongside a range of other duties but it is not possible to identify their numbers separately 
		
	
	(16) All figures are for 2003–04 except the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals, which is for 2002–03.
	(17) Collated from total costs of £78,000 for three years (includes fees and expenses)

Water Fluoridation

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which water companies put fluoride in the water they supply.

Melanie Johnson: Strategic health authorities have agreements with the following water companies to supply water, to which fluoride has been added, to areas for which they are responsible: Anglian Water Services Ltd., Northumbrian Water Ltd., South Staffordshire Water plc, Severn Trent plc and United Utilities Water plc.
	In addition, Northumbrian Water Ltd., Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. and Thames Water Utilities Ltd. supply water, in which fluoride occurs naturally, to some areas at levels approaching one part per million. This is the level at which water is artificially fluoridated.

DEFENCE

Army Training

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations the Adjutant General has made to him on (a) the funding of and (b) the number of instructors available in the Army training camps.

Ivor Caplin: In 2003, as part of the Ministry of Defence's Short Term Planning (STP) process, an additional 192 military personnel were required to improve recruit supervisory care ratios within Army training establishments. So far, 181 personnel have been found from the Field Army, and AG Command has been provided with the necessary funds to support them until 2006.

Butler Review

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken to address the recommendation in paragraph 589 of Lord Butler's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction concerning the provision of channels for the expression of dissent within the Defence Intelligence Service; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what action has been taken to address the recommendation in paragraph 587 of Lord Butler's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction concerning the integration of relevant work of the Defence Intelligence Service with the rest of the intelligence community; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what action has been taken to address the recommendation in paragraph 590 of Lord Butler's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction that the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff should generally be an intelligence specialist; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 14 December 2004
	I refer the hon. Members to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 15 November 2004, Official Report, column 54WS.

Departmental Advertising

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers.

Ivor Caplin: In line with our policy on using wider interest publications for recruitment advertising, the Ministry of Defence regularly places advertisements in a number of ethnic publications, including Muslim newspapers. Muslim publications in which advertisements are currently placed are:
	Muslim Weekly
	Muslim News
	Bangla Post
	Asian Leader
	Aatish
	Citizen (based in Burnley)
	Pakistani Community Magazine (London based)
	Ataish
	Eid Magazine
	Eastern Eye.

Departmental Telephones

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of telephones in his Department by members of staff for their personal use relating to (a) domestic calls and (b) international calls; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The private use of official telephone facilities for incoming and outgoing calls (including voice, data or fax) is not permitted and personnel making unauthorised private calls may be liable for disciplinary action.
	Where the caller uses a chargecard, private calls on official telephone facilities are permissible, provided that they are kept to a minimum and do not interfere with official business.
	Personal calls may be made from an official telephone, at no cost to the individual, in cases of genuine emergency or where calls are of a compassionate nature with agreement from the line manager.

Iraq

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral statement of 24 November 2004, Official Report, column 108W, on Iraq, when the Iraqi Interim Government decided on the method of election for the forthcoming elections.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	The Iraqi Governing Council adopted a resolution in support of the Single National District Proportional Representation system on 30 May 2004.

Medals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the value (a) to collectors and (b) as scrap of specimen medals, unissued medals and medal clasps held at Droitwich which are surplus to requirements; what plans he has to dispose of such stocks; if he will dispose of them by (i) auction and (ii) competitive tender; what assessment he has made of the rarity of the items; if he will list the stocks held of each of these items dating to wars and campaigns before 1939; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: No medals will be offered for sale.
	The Army Medal Office retains a limited amount of named medals and clasps, which were issued but have been returned for various reasons. These medals have a commercial value, but it would not be appropriate to seek to exploit this through the open market. They will instead be offered to Regimental Museums.
	Stocks of unengraved medals and clasps held by the Army Medal Office which are not required by the new MOD Medal Office will be returned to the Royal Mint for destruction and the value of the bullion will be recovered to the Exchequer. Unengraved medals and clasps have no commercial value.
	A detailed list of surplus stock of items dating before 1939 is currently being compiled. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which representatives of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment he met on the morning of 29 November.

Geoff Hoon: I met Parmjit Dhanda MP and Diana Organ MP at their request, together with a delegation from Gloucestershire concerned about the potential impact of the restructuring of the infantry on the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.

VE and VJ Days

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of consultation letters sent, and replies received, on the date of celebration of the 60th anniversaries of VE and VJ days; and if he will make a statement on the process leading to the choice of a single date.

Ivor Caplin: VE Day and VJ Day ceremonies at the cenotaph in London will be held on Sunday 8 May and Sunday 21 August respectively.
	Informal consultation took place with the appropriate Veterans organisations prior to my announcement of these ceremonies on 27 September.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Age Discrimination

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is towards age discrimination.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department's commitment not to discriminate unfairly on any grounds is set out clearly in our equal opportunities policy which is currently being revised to make an explicit reference to age. The Home Office Five Year Race and Diversity Programme includes work to meet the requirements of the proposed regulations on age discrimination in time for implementation in December 2006. This includes monitoring age in all our HR processes. This work will be informed by the latest developments on age policy which we follow through our membership of the Employers Forum on Age (EFA). We have also recently established a new staff Focus Group on age. The Home Office is currently developing diversity awareness training for all staff. This will include guidance on age discrimination and a series of booklets on dignity at work will also give examples on how to avoid age discrimination in the workplace. At present, most staff in the Home Office below the Senior Civil Service have the right to request to remain after the 'normal' retirement age of 60, up to the age of 65. Their being able to stay is dependent on the quality of their work and their health.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Animal Procedures Committee was informed that Imutran primates on moderate procedures had been found dead; and what form the communication took.

Caroline Flint: The specific information requested is not readily identifiable from Home Office records.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been (a) applied for and (b) granted by the courts in Gloucestershire, broken down by local authority area, in each year that ASBOs have been in effect.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		The number of ASBO applications, by result, and the number given on conviction, as notified to the Home Office, where restrictions applied to specific local authority areas in Gloucestershire, 1 April 1999(18) to 30 June 2004
		
			  ASBOs on application(19) ASBOs on conviction  
			 Period/local authority area Total applications Total refused Total issued Total issued Total issued on application/on conviction 
		
		
			 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000  
			 Cheltenham borough council 1 — 1 (20)— 1 
			 Forest of Dean district council 1 — 1 (20)— 1 
			 Sub-total 2 — 2 (20)— 2 
			   
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001  
			 Cheltenham borough council 2 — 2 (20)— 2 
			 Sub-total 2 — 2 (20)— 2 
			   
			 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002  
			 Cheltenham borough council 1 — 1 — 1 
			 Sub-total 1 — 1 — 1 
			   
			 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003  
			 Cheltenham borough council 2 — 2 — 2 
			 Gloucester city council - — — 1 1 
			 Stroud district council 2 — 2 — 2 
			 Sub-total 4 — 4 1 5 
			   
			 1 January 2004 to 30 June 2004  
			 Cheltenham borough council 1 — 1 3 4 
			 Gloucester city council 2 — 2 — 2 
			 Tewkesbury borough council 1 — 1 — 1 
			 Sub-total 4 — 4 3 7 
			 Total 13 — 13 4 17 
		
	
	(18) From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected by police force area on aggregate numbers only. During this period no ASBOs were reported to the Home Office for Gloucestershire.
	(19) Only covers applications dealt with by 30 June 2004.
	(20) Not applicable.

British Citizenship

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an applicant for British citizenship serving abroad in the United Kingdom's armed forces may be disqualified in their application on the grounds of absence from the United Kingdom.

Des Browne: Under section 6(1) (section 6(2) if married to a British citizen) of the British Nationality Act 1981 applicants for naturalisation must meet a number of residence requirements which are detailed in schedule 1 to the Act.
	The residence requirements include five years residence in the UK immediately prior to application (three years if married to a British citizen) and a mandatory requirement to have been physically present in the UK on the actual date five (or three) years prior to the date of application. There is no discretion to waive the requirement to have been physically present in the UK at the start of the five or three year qualifying period where an application is being made on the basis of residence.
	These requirements have not been amended and have been applied consistently since the Act came into force on 1 January 1983.
	There is scope under the Act for Crown Service overseas, on the date of application for citizenship, to act as an alternative to the residence criteria outlined above. (This is set out in schedule 1 paragraph 1(3) to the Act). However, strict criteria are applied in such cases and very few applications are granted on this basis. Examples of cases that have been approved include those where the applicant had more than 20 years Crown Service with British embassies, at pro- and vice-consul level, and the application was supported by current and previous ambassadors.
	In the light of the recent review into the Home Office immigration and naturalisation policy for Gurkhas, the policy for naturalisation for all servicemen has been changed. We will, generally, no longer naturalise a member of the armed forces while they are still in service. Once discharged ex-servicemen will be able to apply for naturalisation, subject to meeting the usual residence requirements. The new policy takes account of the potential high levels of absences that ex-servicemen may have and will enable these to be waived in most cases.
	Our policy on applications made solely on the basis of overseas Crown Service has not changed as a result of the review, and we will continue to apply the same strict criteria in these cases.

British Police (Iraq)

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British police officers are seconded to duty in Iraq; what their expected tour of duty is; and what arrangements have been made to cover their operational duties in the UK during their absence overseas.

David Blunkett: holding answer 6 December 2004
	There are currently 40 serving and three retired UK civilian police officers seconded to Iraq, where they are working with the Iraqi Police Service in an advisory, training and mentoring capacity. These officers are from forces in England and Wales, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Ministry of Defence Police. The length of their deployments varies from six to 18 months.
	All the serving officers are volunteers who have gone to Iraq with the consent of their chief constables, who will have been satisfied that their own operational policing requirements can be fully met during the officers' absence before agreeing to release them for overseas service.

Budd Inquiry

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will (a) print, (b) publish and (c) pay for the report to be produced by Sir Alan Budd on the conduct of the Home Secretary.

David Blunkett: holding answer 6 December 2004
	Provided that Parliament is sitting, we expect the report to be printed and published by the Stationery Office under the authority of the House of Commons. The Home Office will pay for the printing of the report and for any copies it requires.

Crime Statistics

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trends in burglary rates in Telford since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Telford and Wrekin is a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Statistics at CDRP level have only been collected centrally since 1999–2000. The available information is for recorded offences of burglary in a dwelling and is given in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Recorded offences of burglary in a dwelling in the Telford and Wrekin crime and disorder reduction partnership area—1999–2000 to 2001–02
		
			 Period Number of offences 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1,345 
			 2000–01 1,284 
			 2001–02 1,358 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Recorded offences of burglary in a dwelling in the Telford and Wrekin crime and disorder reduction partnership area—2002–03 and 2003–04
		
			 Period Number of offences 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,250 
			 2003–04 1,231 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime Statistics

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trends in car crime in Telford since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Telford and Wrekin is a crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) area. Statistics at CDRP level have only been collected centrally since 1999–2000. The available information is given in the following tables and shows that recorded offences of vehicle crime have fallen in each year since 1999–2000.
	
		Table 1: Recorded offences of vehicle crime in the Telford and Wrekin crime and disorder reduction partnership area—1999–2000 to 2001–02
		
			 Period Number of offences 
		
		
			 1999–2000 2,899 
			 2000–01 2,802 
			 2001–02 2,404 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Recorded offences of vehicle crime in the Telford and Wrekin crime and disorder reduction partnership area—2002–03 and 2003–04
		
			 Period Number of offences 
		
		
			 2002–03 2,379 
			 2003–04 2,335 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime Statistics

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in (a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Bolton, North-East has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Bolton, North-East comes within the Bolton Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level have only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. The latest figures for six key offences for 2003–04 can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/cdrptabs.pdf.
	More detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk.

Community Safety Accreditation

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have established Community Safety Accreditation schemes; what assessment he has made of these schemes; how many private sector employees have been accredited; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: 10 police forces: Gwent, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, North Wales, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, South Wales and West Yorkshire, have established Community Safety Accreditation Schemes so far. Chief Constables can accredit non-police employees working in a community safety role with limited powers. Two private sector employees have been accredited, by the chief Constable of Lancashire. No formal assessment has yet been made of the effectiveness of these schemes.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 9 November from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent; ref. M17507/4.

Des Browne: holding answer 7 December 2004
	I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 December.

Custody Sergeants

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to include the civilianisation of custody sergeants within the civilianisation programme for custody.

Hazel Blears: Clauses 111 and 112 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill currently before Parliament propose creating the post of staff custody officer. Postholders would be subject to designation under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002, requiring that the chief officer is satisfied that staff are suitable, capable and adequately trained before appointment. The staff custody officer would then be able to carry out all the function of a custody officer under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).
	The ability to appoint staff custody officers is part of the Work force modernisation programme. Their appointment would enable experienced, supervisory ranks to take up front-line duties.

Cyclists

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will launch a campaign in the immediate future to alert cyclists to the dangers of riding bicycles during the hours of darkness without front or rear lights being displayed; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department recognises the importance of conspicuity for cyclists, especially during the hours of darkness. Casualty statistics demonstrate that children are the most at risk and therefore the Department's publicity concentrates on this group. Current campaign materials promote a range of visibility solutions including using fluorescent and reflective items and cycle lights.

Cyclists

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyclists were prosecuted for crossing red lights in the latest year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: There were 38 pedal cyclists proceeded against in England and Wales 2003 for the offence of neglect of traffic directions (which will include failing to stop at traffic signals).

Departmental Advertising

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by his Department to determine (a) on which satellite television stations advertisements on behalf of his Department or its agencies are screened and (b) the frequency of screenings of advertisements.

Fiona Mactaggart: All Home Office advertising campaigns are produced in partnership with leading advertising agencies, media strategy agencies and media buying agencies. All these services are procured using the expertise of the Central Office of Information (COI).
	Decisions on which media to use for campaigns are based on recommendations made by the media strategy agency who will take into account the campaign objectives, the target audience, and any specific regional factors.
	The media strategy agency will prepare a brief for the media buyers who will then try to secure the most effective advertising slots to match the brief at the most competitive prices. Frequency of screening will depend on a consideration of how many times an audience needs to see the message before it will achieve the desired effect. This will be a key consideration in setting the campaign budget.
	Hence the Home Office drug prevention campaign FRANK which aims to remind young people of an advice line that is available to them features at mid-level of frequency on satellite channels preferred by a youth audience, whereas our acquisitive crime campaign which targets a cross-section of the general public is likely to be seen on prime time terrestrial television and popular satellite channels in a number of high frequency bursts of advertising.
	Media strategies and media buying are regularly audited by the COI to assess both quality of and cost effectiveness of performance

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Figures for costs alone can be misleading if not placed within the wider context of unit price changes, areas occupied and changes in actual consumption. Table 1 shows energy costs for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04, along with the corresponding consumption data and average fuel prices. Figures are given separately for electricity and heating fuels, as well as for total energy.
	
		Table 1: Energy costs, consumption and average prices  -- Costs (£k/y)
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 Percentage change 
		
		
			 Total HO
			 Electricity 15,054 16,598 10 
			 Heating Fuels 17,139 19,522 14 
			 Total Energy 32,193 36,120 12 
			 Consumption (T kWh/y) 
			 Electricity 344,978 370,519 7 
			 Heating Fuels 1,289,101 1,087,182 -16 
			 Total Energy 1,634,169 1,457,503 -11 
			 Average price (p/kWh) 
			 Electricity 4.36 4.48 3 
			 Heating Fuels 1.33 1.80 35 
			 Total Energy 1.97 2.48 26 
		
	
	The table relates to key sites on the estate of the Home Office and its agencies. Key sites are defined as a site which is over 1,000 sq. metres, has over 50 staff and where the Department has control over the heating and electric.
	Electricity costs have risen by 10 per cent. This is in part due to a 7 per cent. increase in consumption, but also a 3 per cent. increase in average price. Heating fuel costs have risen by 14 per cent., because of a large increase in average price (35 per cent.), which more than offset a 16 per cent. drop in consumption.
	Total energy costs have gone up by 12 per cent. due to a 26 per cent. increase in average price. This price increase has more than offset an 11 per cent. drop in consumption of total energy.
	
		Table 2: Floor area and .consumption per sq. m.
		
			 Total HO 2002–03 2003–04 Percentage change 
		
		
			 Floor area (000 m(22)) 3,815 3,776 -1 
			 Electricity/sq. m. 97 98 1 
			 Heating Fuel/sq. m. 338 288 -15 
			 Energy/sq. m. 428 386 -10 
		
	
	While Table 2 shows a small increase in electricity consumption (1 per cent.) per sq. m., there has been a significant decrease of 15 per cent. in consumption of heating fuels per sq. m. Overall, energy consumption per sq. m. has fallen by 10 per cent. resulting from continuing improvements in energy efficiency. The small rise in electricity use is judged to be due to greater efficiency in use of space resulting in higher staff occupation rates per sq. m. with consequent higher IT and air conditioning loads per sq. m.
	The Department is drawing up an energy management strategy with the aim of increasing efficiency and reducing consumption. This will involve identifying those buildings which are high energy users through a benchmarking exercise and then undertaking energy surveys at those sites. Based on survey recommendations, site-specific action plans will be devised and implemented.
	The contract for the management of the new headquarters site at 2 Marsham Street requires our PFI partner to operate the building at not less than 10 per cent. below the best practice benchmark contained in the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme Energy Use in Offices Guide.
	The Prison Service has an Energy Efficiency Action Plan. A benchmarking guide has been developed and the data used to help set carbon dioxide key performance indicators for each prison.
	The Prison Service was the first Government Department/Agency to be accredited under the National Energy Foundation's scheme for energy efficiency and was re-accredited in 2003. It aims for reaccredidation every three years, which requires evidence of continuous progress.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last two years, giving the (i) title, (ii) purpose, (iii) date and (iv) cost of each.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department currently provides 130 nursery places for children under five). These places are available to Home Office staff (including agencies) and are provided under contracted Workplace nursery arrangements where staff pay part of the cost of the place and the remainder, the subsidy, is paid by the Department direct to the nursery. The cost of the subsidy varies depending on the age of the child and location of the nursery.
	The Department also provides holiday playscheme places during 13 weeks of school holidays each year. The playschemes are run at various locations for children between age 4 to 12 years. Over 330 staff have benefited from use of nurseries and playscheme at an overall cost to the Department of approximately £282,000.
	In addition to these facilities the United Kingdom Passport Service, the Forensic Science Service and the Police and Information Technology Organisation run childcare voucher and allowance schemes, which provide staff with the opportunity to receive a contribution towards professional childcare fees.
	The Department is planning to implement a childcare voucher scheme which will enable staff to take advantage of the new tax and revised national insurance arrangements relating to employer supported childcare from April 2005. The scheme will allow staff to choose to take part of their salary in the form of childcare vouchers and will enhance and expand the Department's current childcare provision. It will be available to all eligible staff irrespective of their work location and will provide more equitable and flexible support as the vouchers can be used to help meet the cost of any registered and approved childcare.
	Provision of childcare is one of a number of policies the Home Office has in place to help staff balance their work and home life. By supporting access to childcare the Department benefits from increased recruitment and retention of staff, a more diverse work force and makes a positive contribution to the National Childcare Strategy. Information about childcare provision and flexible working policies that can help staff to better manage their childcare arrangements are available on the Home Office intranet.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost to his Department was for the use of external consultants in each of the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information held by the Core Home Office (including IT and accommodation) in each of the last two years:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002 58,509,500 
			 2003 73,762,761 
		
	
	The use of external consultants throughout the Home Office provides the Department with specialist knowledge, skills, capacity and technical expertise that is otherwise not available in house. This enables all units and organisations within the Department to achieve the levels of service required by the Home Office and the Government and assists in obtaining value for money.

Departmental Costs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been allocated under his Department's budget for central services for (a) private offices, (b) the central Secretariat providing support to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, (c) Corporate Resources Directorate, (d) Planning and Finance Directorate, (e) Communications Directorate, (f) Legal Advisers Branch, (g) the Prisons Ombudsman's office and (h) HM Inspectorate of Prisons in (i) 2003–04, (ii) 2004–05 and (iii) 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: With reference to the question for the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the table sets out the allocated budget for central services.
	The Corporate Resource Directorate is made of the three units, which have been identified in the table, also the Private Office and Central Secretariat has been combined in line with the Home Office departmental structure.
	
		
			 PQ Ref Unit 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 (a) + (b) Private Office/Central Secretariat 5,110 5,415 — 
			 (f) Legal Advise Branch 3,120 2,985 — 
			 (c) Corporate Resource
			  CDSD 95,793 101,352 — 
			  HRG 32,179 30,200 — 
			  Adelphi 16,000 5,500 — 
			 (d) Planning and Finance 8,109 6,660 — 
			 (e) Communications 36,396 19,395 — 
			  Central Services 196,707 171,507 195,000 
			 (g) Prisons Ombudsman's Office 1,658 3,215 3,252 
			 (h) HM Inspectorate of Prisons 2,605 2,843 2,668 
		
	
	Note:
	The 2005–06 Central Services budget has not been sub-delegated, as the process is not yet complete.

Fireworks

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) warnings, (b) fixed penalty notices and (c) prosecutions there have been for breaches of Fireworks Act 2003 provisions governing use and sale of fireworks in each police authority area, grouped by region.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 December 2004
	The latest provisional data in the following table shows that, from 1 October 2003 to 31 October 2004, 314 penalty notices for disorder have been issued and notified to the Home Office by police forces in England and Wales for offences involving fireworks. These include throwing fireworks, breaches of fireworks curfews and the illegal possession of certain categories of fireworks. These are shown by region and police force area in the table.
	Data from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on defendants cautioned (including reprimands and final warnings for juveniles) and proceeded against for firework offences, England and Wales 2003, are also shown in the table.
	Statistics on cautions and court proceedings for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	
		Number of penalty notices for disorder given for offences involving fireworks from 1 October 2003 to 31 October 2004 by region and police force area—England and Wales
		
			 Region and police force area Number of PNDs given for firework offences 
		
		
			 Metropolitan police 5 
			   
			 North West region  
			 Cumbria — 
			 Lancashire 11 
			 Merseyside 7 
			 Greater Manchester 4 
			 Cheshire — 
			 Total for region 22 
			 North East region  
			 Northumbria — 
			 Durham — 
			 North Yorkshire — 
			 West Yorkshire 14 
			 South Yorkshire 5 
			 Humberside 2 
			 Cleveland 1 
			 Total for region 22 
			 Midlands region  
			 West Midlands 9 
			 Staffordshire 4 
			 West Mercia — 
			 Warwickshire — 
			 Total for region 13 
			 Eastern region  
			 Derbyshire — 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 
			 Lincolnshire — 
			 Leicestershire — 
			 Northamptonshire — 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 
			 Norfolk 1 
			 Suffolk — 
			 Total for region 4 
			 South East region  
			 Bedfordshire — 
			 Hertfordshire — 
			 Essex 2 
			 Thames Valley 235 
			 Hampshire — 
			 Surrey 1 
			 Kent 1 
			 Sussex 4 
			 City of London — 
			 Total for region 243 
			 South West region  
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 
			 Avon and Somerset — 
			 Gloucestershire — 
			 Wiltshire — 
			 Dorset — 
			 Total for region 2 
			 Welsh region  
			 North Wales 2 
			 Gwent 1 
			 South Wales — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — 
			 Total for region 3 
			   
			 Total England and Wales 314 
		
	
	
		Number of defendants cautioned(22) and proceeded against at the magistrates courts for offences relating to fireworks—England and Wales, 2003(21)
		
			  Explosives Act 1875 S.80 Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol, etc.) Act 1985, S.2A(21) Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 
			  Throwing, casting or firing any fireworks in or into any highway, street etc. public place Being in possession of fireworks etc. in or when entering a designated sports ground Contravention of Regulations—offences under S.12 Consumer Protection Act 1987 
			 Region and police force area Cautioned(22) Proceeded against Caustioned(22) Proceeded against Cautioned(22) Proceeded against 
		
		
			 Metropolitan police — 8 2 — — 26 
			
			 North West region   
			 Cumbria 1 — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — 5 — — — 8 
			 Merseyside 1 4 — 1 — 2 
			 Greater Manchester — 6 2 — — 17 
			 Cheshire 1 — — — — 2 
			 North East Region   
			 Northumbria — 4 — — — 6 
			 Durham 1 2 — — — — 
			 North Yorkshire — 1 — — — 4 
			 West Yorkshire 3 3 — — — 5 
			 South Yorkshire 2 — — — 4 5 
			 Humberside — 1 — — — 11 
			 Cleveland 2 — — — — 4 
			 Midlands Region   
			 West Midlands — 1 — 1 — 26 
			 Staffordshire — 2 — — — 3 
			 West Mercia — — — 1 — — 
			 Warwickshire — — — — — — 
			 Eastern Region   
			 Derbyshire 1 — — — — 9 
			 Nottinghamshire — 2 — — — 3 
			 Lincolnshire — 1 — — — 2 
			 Leicestershire — 1 — — — 3 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — 2 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — 
			 Norfolk — 1 — — — 4 
			 Suffolk — — — — — 2 
			 South East Region   
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — 
			 Hertfordshire — — — — — — 
			 Essex 2 — — — — 3 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — 3 
			 Hampshire — 1 — — — 2 
			 Surrey — 1 — — — — 
			 Kent — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — 1 — — — 4 
			 South West Region   
			 Avon and Somerset — — — — — 2 
			 Devon and Cornwall — 1 — — — — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — 
			 Wiltshire 1 — — — — 6 
			 Dorset — — — — — — 
			 Welsh Region   
			 Gwent 1 — — — — 1 
			 North Wales 2 1 — — — 2 
			 South Wales 1 1 — — — 3 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — 
			
			 Total England and Wales 19 48 4 3 4 170 
		
	
	(21) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(22) Includes reprimands and final warnings for juveniles.

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provisions in (a) the Fireworks Act 2003 and (b) other relevant legislation in controlling the misuse of fireworks.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Measures introduced under the Fireworks Act 2003 and Consumer Protection Act 1987—the Fireworks Regulations 2004 and the Fireworks (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, respectively, were made in the summer of 2004. Additionally, two of the measures introduced by the Fireworks Regulations 2004 are set to come into force on 1 January 2005.
	Given the above, it is still too early to gain an overall picture of the effectiveness of the regulations—a more complete picture will emerge after the next fireworks season of 2005.
	Notwithstanding the above, early anecdotal reports from enforcers across the country indicate that the November fireworks season of 2004 has seen an improvement on last year. For example, the Fire and Rescue Service in Merseyside, where criminal damage with fireworks is a particular problem, estimate a 70 to 80 per cent. reduction in incidents of criminal damage caused in this way during the last fireworks season.

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of individuals for (a) selling fireworks without a licence, (b) selling fireworks that did not conform to British Standards BS 7114, (c) selling adult fireworks to individuals below the age of 18 and (d) storing fireworks in an unsafe manner there were in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2003 in (A) the UK, (B) Wales and (C) the South Wales Police Force area.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of prosecutions for (a) , (b) , (c) and (d) , where local Trading Standards Departments are the prosecuting authority, are not centrally available. However, the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors) has initiated an annual collection of data from local authorities with respect to prosecutions for the above offences. The figures for 2004 will be made available in early 2005.
	With regard to (d) , where the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the prosecuting authority, there has been one prosecution since 2003 for unsafe storage in England. There were no prosecutions in Wales.

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firework-related (a) fatalities, (b) serious injuries and (c) incidences of damage to property there were in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2003 in (A) the UK, (B) Wales and (C) the South Wales Police Force area.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	In answer to (a), during 2003 there were no fatalities in the UK as a result of the use of fireworks. The statistics for the 2004 fireworks season are published annually in March—so are not yet available. However, I am not aware of any fatalities during the 2004 period.
	With regard to (b), during 2003 there were 110 injuries in the UK where hospital overnight treatment was required. A regional or national break down of such injuries (serious injuries) is not available. Again, with regard to the figures for 2004, a comparative figure for this period is not yet available for the UK.
	Finally, a breakdown detailing the various causes of criminal damage is not centrally available.

Freedom of Information Act

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely costs to his Department in the first quarter of 2005 of compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 30 November 2004
	The Home Office has made wide-ranging preparations for the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. There has been significant work undertaken both in preparation for implementation and also to ensure future resource inputs are reduced where possible. This has included improving Home Office record management systems, which could underpin the office's ability to comply promptly with the Act, and dummy requests to test processes.
	After January implementation of the Act will principally involve staff who also have other duties. The effort which they devote to Freedom of Information issues in the first quarter of 2005 will depend on a range of factors, including the number of requests for information received in each area, the complexity of those requests, the ease with which it can be established whether relevant information is held, and the number of appeals lodged by dissatisfied requesters.
	The cost of compliance is being met from existing resources, and there has been no requirement to identify anticipated costs or to collate them centrally. To collect the necessary information now would involve disproportionate cost, and the final part of Exemption 9 (voluminous or vexatious requests) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information therefore applies.

Justice and Home Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome was of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held on 2–3 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I represented the United Kingdom at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on 2 December 2004.
	A list of "A" points approved at the Council has been placed in the Library (Document 15393/04 PTS A61 and ADD/1).
	Franco Frattini made his first appearance as the new JHA Commissioner, giving an overview of his priorities for the coming year. Immigration was at the forefront, with managed legal migration, integration, action to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration all emphasised as important work areas.
	The Council took note of progress in negotiations on the draft Framework Decision on the European Evidence Warrant. The programme deadline set in the Hague Programme for completion by the end of 2005 was thought to be ambitious but not out of reach.
	The Council reached a general approach on Articles 1–8 of the draft Council Decision on the exchange of information extracted from the criminal record and agreed that work should continue on the recitals, accompanying form and on the application of this measure to individuals to their records.
	The Council debated the scope of application of the Framework Decision on the retention of communications data on the basis of two options. The first would allow individual service providers to define what they would keep; the second envisaged the creation of a common list of data to be retained by all. No conclusion was reached and the presidency therefore directed the working group to further examine the issues raised, including those relating to data protection and costs.
	The presidency presented for discussion at a future date a proposal for a compromise package to break the deadlock on the Framework Decision on ship source pollution. This proposed the deletion of the second sentence of Article 4(7) dealing with the treatment of member states' flag ships as domestic vessels, with an amendment to Article 11 dealing with a future review of application of the instrument. The presidency package also proposed a Council Declaration and a Commission declaration concerning, respectively, engagement with the International Maritime Organisation on measures to combat pollution and the need for economic impact assessment of any future proposals.
	Gijs de Vries, the EU Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator, introduced documents presented to Ministers for agreement. They focused on the need for effective implementation of EU legislation and more effective co-operation between law enforcement services. The Commission underscored the importance of co-operation between member states on the terrorist threat, and focused on four areas of terrorism-related work, in particular: work on explosives; radicalisation and recruitment; dialogue with the private sector; and scientific and technological research.
	I made an intervention focusing on the balance between action to tackle counter-terrorism and the need to protect the rights of the individual. I noted that this balance was at the centre of the debate around counter-terrorism both domestically and in the EU.
	With regard to the Council decision on the exchange of information and co-operation concerning terrorist offences, discussion centred on the limitations of safeguards around the exchange of sensitive information. A general approach was reached on this Council Decision following some minor amendments to the recitals.
	On the Council common position on the transfer of certain data to Interpol (lost or stolen passports) the presidency reached a general approach without amendment.
	The presidency provided the Council with an information update on the Ministerial Integration Conference "Turning Principles into Actions" and the Ministerial Conference "Diversity and participation—the gender perspective", which I was grateful to receive.
	Under any other business, the presidency noted the Council Decision on the application of parts of the provisions of the Schengen aquis to the UK would soon be ready for adoption. I strongly welcomed this.
	The presidency provided further information on the draft decision of the Council providing for certain areas covered by title IV of Part Three of the Treaty Establishing the European Community to be governed by the procedure referred to in Article 251 of that treaty (i.e. the move to Qualified Majority Voting and co-decision for certain immigration measures), which it hoped to adopt before the end of the year. The presidency took note of the UK's parliamentary scrutiny reserve.
	In the margins of the JHA Council, there was a meeting between EU JHA Ministers and JHA Ministers of the Western Balkan states to discuss progress and co-operation on JHA matters.

Magic Mushroom Kits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of magic mushroom kits that have been imported into the United Kingdom in the past 12 months.

Caroline Flint: There is no current estimate available of the number of magic mushroom kits that have been imported into the UK.

Magic Mushroom Kits

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to make the selling of fresh magic mushrooms a criminal offence.

Caroline Flint: We are currently examining the position and will take the necessary steps to ensure it is clear that it is unlawful to import, export, produce, supply or possess with intent to supply magic mushrooms.

Major Projects

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance the Home Office has received from the Cabinet Office on the timing of business case assessments in respect of major projects.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office has not received any guidance from the Cabinet Office on the timing of business case assessments in respect of major projects.

Murder Inquiry (Richard Watson)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what action has been taken by Sussex police consequent on their meeting with Linda Henderson and Amanda Williams-Gater on Friday 24 January 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the progress of the re-investigation into the murder of Mr. Richard Watson; and by whom it is being conducted;
	(3)  on what grounds the Chief Constable of Sussex rejected the complaint of Mrs. Linda Henderson and declined to record it under section 69(1) of the Police Act 1996; and if he will review this decision under his powers as Home Secretary;
	(4)  what apology was given by Sussex police to Linda Henderson and Amanda Williams-Gater; to whom in the press it was made available; and when;
	(5)  whether the full report of the Metropolitan police investigation into the Sussex police investigation of the murder of Mr. Richard Watson has been published; and if he will place a copy in the Library;
	(6)  whether disciplinary action against the senior investigating officer responsible for the investigation into the murder of Mr. Richard Watson was considered by Sussex police following the investigation by the Metropolitan police into Sussex police's handling of the case; and if he will make a statement.
	(7)  when Detective Chief Inspector S. Dennis of Sussex police formally referred to the Crown Prosecution Service papers relating to the murder of Mr. Richard Watson;
	(8)  on what date the senior investigating police officer overseeing the inquiry into the murder of Mr. Richard Watson retired from Sussex police; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  on what date Sussex police received the report of the investigation by the Metropolitan police into the conduct of the investigation by the Sussex police into the murder of Mr. Richard Watson; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 December 2004 providing answers to these nine questions. I regret that responses were not provided when these questions were originally tabled in October 2004. 1 will arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the House Library.

National Probation Directorate

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) budget and (b) final expenditure of the National Probation Directorate was in the year 2003–04.

Paul Goggins: The budget for the National Probation directorate for 2003–04 was £196.8 million and the expenditure was £195.6 million. Figures include both resource and capital.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Fiona Mactaggart: The total number of written questions for which a substantive answer was not provided before the end of Session was 245. Of these, 171 were tabled in the five days leading up to Prorogation. The Department did provide substantive answers to 496 parliamentary questions in the four days up to Prorogation.
	Ministers make every effort to answer questions substantively in accordance with performance guidelines and especially before Prorogation. However this is not always possible. Where right hon. and hon. Members did not receive a substantive response it is open to them to re-table their question this session.

Police (Stop/Account Procedures)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average number of Stop and Account procedures undertaken by an individual police officer during an average duty period.

Hazel Blears: There is no data currently held centrally on Stop and Account procedures. However, the observations of street patrols carried out for the phased implementation evaluation showed that during the 170 hours spent with officers outside the police station: a search was observed every 5.3 hours of patrol; and a recordable stop every 2.2 hours of patrol. These figures are based on patrol hours observed, and is not a per officer measure.

Police (Stop/Account Procedures)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped by the police per day on average in the last period for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: There are no data currently held centrally on numbers stopped but not searched. Following recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, police forces will be required to record all stops as well as searches from 1 April 2005.

Police Applicants (Diabetes)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been put in place by constabularies medically to assess people with diabetes individually who apply to join the police.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 2 December 2004
	All applicants are assessed individually. A guidance note will shortly be circulated to all Force Medical Advisers setting out that applicants should be physically and mentally fit in accordance with non-diabetic standards.
	In assessing the fitness for work of people with diabetes, Force Medical Advisers should obtain advice and information from the diabetologist and GP. Force Medical Advisers will also take account of the following factors:
	Diabetes should be under regular (at least annual) specialist review
	Diabetes should be under stable control
	People should self-monitor their blood glucose
	People should be well educated and motivated in diabetes self-care
	There should be no disabling hypoglycaemia
	There should be normal awareness of individual hypoglycaemic symptoms
	There should be no advanced diabetic complications
	There should be no significant cardiovascular disease
	There should be no significant peripheral vascular disease
	Fitness for work/suitability for employment should be reassessed annually. Assessments should be undertaken jointly by an occupational health physician and diabetes specialist
	Annual assessments should be based on the above criteria
	It is for the Police Occupational Physician to weigh up the individual's health status against any potential health and safety risks and to then make a recommendation to management regarding the individual's fitness for appointment as a police officer and any restrictions that need to be imposed on the duties performed by the individual on appointment.

Police Cars

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers since 1997 have been disciplined for the improper use of police motorcars.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 6 December 2004
	Information concerning the number of officers that have been disciplined since 1997 for the improper use of police motorcars is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police Divisions (Places of Safety)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that each police division has access to a designated place of safety as defined by the Mental Health Act 1983.

Hazel Blears: Guidance issued to Chief Police Officers in March 2004 (HOC 17/2004) on police and health service liaison includes reference to appropriate places of safety under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
	The appropriate location of a place of safety was discussed at a meeting on 21 October 2004 of the cross-government group of officials established to look at police/health service issues relating to the management of potentially violent behaviour and the use of restraint.
	The identification of preferred places of safety is a matter of local agreement. However, the group concluded that a place of safety should be a health facility unless there were exceptional circumstances such as extremely violent behaviour. This would be reflected in the Codes of Practice proposed under the Mental Health Bill currently being considered by Parliament. We are seeking to ensure that police stations can be used as a place of safety only as a last resort and examining the potential that if used, it would be for limited time period only before transfer to a more suitable place of safety must take place.

Police Funding

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what funding Lincolnshire Police will receive in 2004–05 under the Rural Sparsity Grant;
	(2)  how much funding has been made available to each police authority in England and Wales since 2000–01 under the Rural Sparsity Grant.

Hazel Blears: Rural Policing Fund allocations to each police authority, including Lincolnshire, since 2000–01 are set out in the following table.
	
		£
		
			 Police authority 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 494,892 992,875 993,718 
			 Bedfordshire 81,390 163,540 163,555 
			 Cambridgeshire 561,585 1,125,169 1,126,395 
			 Cheshire 115,058 228,487 227,493 
			 Cumbria 690,613 1,370,910 1,360,324 
			 Derbyshire 208,347 416,190 415,196 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,554,673 3,114,489 3,128,806 
			 Dorset 221,858 442,209 443,158 
			 Durham 124,270 246,803 245,259 
			 Dyfed Powys 1,297,570 2,588,337 2,583,979 
			 Essex 251,315 503,710 504,105 
			 Gloucestershire 387,093 776,548 775,749 
			 Gwent 102,895 204,476 203,489 
			 Hampshire 110,175 220,430 219,680 
			 Humberside 357,640 710,250 705,395 
			 Kent 298,863 599,342 599,700 
			 Lancashire 32,228 64,054 63,835 
			 Leicestershire 216,758 433,988 433,164 
			 Lincolnshire 985,951 1,978,690 1,984,449 
			 Norfolk 1,036,848 2,078,830 2,085,509 
			 Northamptonshire 350,892 704,141 705,137 
			 North Wales 770,617 1,533,723 1,530,130 
			 North Yorkshire 1,005,224 2,013,806 2,018,359 
			 Staffordshire 138,358 275,072 273,147 
			 Suffolk 711,353 1,422,627 1,424,923 
			 Surrey 5,463 11,048 11,006 
			 Sussex 273,834 550,563 549,849 
			 Thames Valley 629,559 1,262,860 1,261,933 
			 Warwickshire 282,108 562,546 561,338 
			 West Mercia 1,157,670 2,311,653 2,309,690 
			 Wiltshire 544,900 1,092,634 1,091,530 
			 Totals 15,000,000 30,000,000 30,000,000 
		
	
	
		£
		
			 Police authority 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 978,223 976,068 980,199 
			 Bedfordshire 164,272 164,422 164,007 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,098,821 1,100,922 1,113,162 
			 Cheshire 228,073 227,069 226,308 
			 Cumbria 1,355,658 1,348,383 1,341,709 
			 Derbyshire 407,488 407,217 409,869 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,122,895 3,122,021 3,122,008 
			 Dorset 441,478 440,274 438,864 
			 Durham 239,908 237,725 236,779 
			 Dyfed Powys 2,621,899 2,634,774 2,638,887 
			 Essex 501,773 500,243 498,646 
			 Gloucestershire 778,455 775,840 771,929 
			 Gwent 202,360 201,534 200,454 
			 Hampshire 219,421 219,178 218,558 
			 Humberside 698,109 694,592 697,991 
			 Kent 595,161 594,228 593,654 
			 Lancashire 63,419 63,266 63,106 
			 Leicestershire 428,056 429,309 428,346 
			 Lincolnshire 2,032,554 2,050,437 2,057,779 
			 Norfolk 2,076,414 2,074,784 2,079,305 
			 Northamptonshire 712,539 716,418 715,936 
			 North Wales 1,542,644 1,543,108 1,537,085 
			 North Yorkshire 2,018,029 2,014,688 2,009,523 
			 Staffordshire 270,884 269,021 267,339 
			 Suffolk 1,407,313 1,403,051 1,405,084 
			 Surrey 10,825 10,756 10,721 
			 Sussex 541 ,847 539,779 537,875 
			 Thames Valley 1,245,238 1,240,649 1,238,801 
			 Warwickshire 558,987 562,273 565,193 
			 West Mercia 2,341 ,925 2,344,363 2,336,615 
			 Wiltshire 1,095,332 1,093,608 1,094,268 
			 Totals 30,000,000 30,000,000 30,000,000

Police Numbers

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Bolton, North-East has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Bolton, North-East constituency is part of the Bolton Basic Command Unit (BCU) of the Greater Manchester Police. Information on strength at BCU level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002 and is collected on a full-time equivalent basis. BCU strength is set out in the following table. It is not possible to provide police numbers at constituency level.
	
		Bolton Basic Command Unit
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Number of police officers Percentage change 
		
		
			 2002 517 — 
			 2003 526 +1.7 
			 2004 551 +4.8 
		
	
	The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Michael Todd QPM) and within the Bolton BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Press Officers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers the Department has employed in each of the past five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 30 November 2004
	Press officers within the Home Office are employed at the Information Officer (IO) and Senior Information Officer (SIO) grades.
	Press Office numbers in each of the past five years are outlined as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 16 
			 2000–01 (23)31 
			 2001–02 (24)35 
			 2002–03 39 
			 2003–04 39 
		
	
	(23) Expansion of the Home Office press office followed an external consultant's review of its staffing and operation in 1999 and recommended the creation of the Newsdesk so as to better meet the demands of the media. This improved efficiency from 'losing' in excess of 20 per cent. of the calls pre expansion, to a positive where from June 2003 to June 2004 91.8 per cent. of 61,070 calls received by the newsdesk were answered.
	(24) The Home Office press office and the prison service press office merged in May 2001.
	In 2003–04 the Press Office newsdesk answered 60,039 calls, Press Office issued 583 press notices and held 29 briefings for the media.
	The £1.9 million cost for 2003–04 on Press Officers is 0.094 per cent. of the overall Home Office salary bill (£2,016,593,000—Home Office Departmental Report 2003–04).

Tetra

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the locations of Tetra base stations operational in the region covered by the Sussex Police Force.

Caroline Flint: O2 Airwave is responsible for providing the infrastructure for Airwave, the new police radio system. The positioning of base stations for Airwave is a matter for O2 Airwave to decide on, having regard to the need to provide the coverage required by the police. Airwave base stations are listed in Ofcom's Sitefinder database which is available to the public via Ofcom's website.

Tetra

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated on the possible effects of Tetra mast signals on (a) breathalysers, (b) speed cameras, (c) lawnmowers, (d) computers and (e) pacemakers.

Caroline Flint: We have evaluated the possible effects of Tetra technology on speed cameras and breathalysers, and the Association of Chief Police Officers has re-issued its guidance to forces on the use of these devices to take into account the change to Tetra technology handsets and vehicle mounted radios. All electrical devices are required to comply with the relevant European Directives on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

Traffic Police

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic police are operating in Essex; and how many there were in 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Published information on police strength by police force area is available for rank, gender and ethnicity but not by function.
	Figures on police strength for March 2004 were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 13/04, copies of which are available in the Library or on the internet site: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html.

Vehicle Crime

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) reported thefts and (b) convictions for theft (i) of motor cars, (ii) of motorcycles, (iii) of motorcycle parts and (iv) from vehicles there were in each police authority in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information on thefts of motorcycles and motorcycle parts is not collected separately. The available information relates to thefts of and from a vehicle and is provided in the tables.
	Data from the recorded crime series relate to the number of offences recorded by the police. Data on convictions relate to the number of offenders. For this reason, the two sets of data are not comparable.
	
		Table 3: Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for "theft of" and "theft from" a motor vehicle (25) by police force area—England and Wales 1999 to 2003
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
			 Police force area Theft of a motor vehicle(26) Theft from a motor vehicle Theft of a motor vehicle(26) Theft from a motor vehicle Theft of a motor vehicle(26) Theft from a motor vehicle 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 193 73 164 42 181 19 
			 Bedfordshire 136 50 135 66 112 61 
			 Cambridgeshire 96 42 90 43 70 60 
			 Cheshire 120 68 104 13 88 4 
			 Cleveland 113 53 104 38 121 43 
			 Cumbria 56 12 64 13 49 11 
			 Derbyshire 97 119 88 107 98 126 
			 Devon and Cornwall 137 27 82 22 103 14 
			 Dorset 60 79 52 67 42 44 
			 Durham 120 21 98 21 75 14 
			 Essex 188 111 201 134 214 124 
			 Gloucestershire 60 62 49 44 55 64 
			 Greater Manchester 756 102 722 77 726 89 
			 Hampshire 229 196 201 168 219 140 
			 Hertfordshire 102 82 91 97 90 87 
			 Humberside 164 109 114 91 110 86 
			 Kent 225 163 235 116 226 68 
			 Lancashire 270 320 269 257 226 253 
			 Leicestershire 151 134 107 140 134 117 
			 Lincolnshire 84 14 54 13 37 6 
			 Merseyside 283 125 273 172 300 110 
			 Metropolitan Police(28) 1,431 619 1,392 514 1,453 510 
			 Norfolk 75 34 77 15 49 11 
			 Northamptonshire 88 20 83 33 66 45 
			 Northumbria 131 113 97 84 26 77 
			 North Yorkshire 258 257 236 213 201 182 
			 Nottinghamshire 166 139 156 134 154 119 
			 South Yorkshire 319 189 247 166 196 164 
			 Staffordshire(27) 159 84 87 86 119 92 
			 Suffolk 172 14 93 16 89 6 
			 Surrey 59 39 51 30 60 23 
			 Sussex 128 118 126 83 130 94 
			 Thames Valley 165 38 228 33 252 28 
			 Warwickshire 49 27 46 12 49 23 
			 West Mercia 142 119 150 96 116 106 
			 West Midlands 639 233 592 216 620 169 
			 West Yorkshire 489 388 438 333 449 339 
			 Wiltshire 52 17 43 9 44 6 
			
			 Dyfed Powys 41 10 34 24 43 21 
			 Gwent 84 13 82 17 91 10 
			 North Wales 97 71 84 48 78 40 
			 South Wales 348 68 300 57 286 45 
			 England and Wales 8,732 4,572 7,939 3,960 7,847 3,650 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 2003 
			  Theft of a motor vehicle(26) Theft from a motor vehicle Theft of a motor vehicle(26) Theft from a motor vehicle 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 220 49 166 53 
			 Bedfordshire 90 72 79 77 
			 Cambridgeshire 99 54 102 62 
			 Cheshire 120 8 91 16 
			 Cleveland 175 44 132 29 
			 Cumbria 53 18 41 16 
			 Derbyshire 97 105 90 90 
			 Devon and Cornwall 106 14 107 12 
			 Dorset 43 60 39 60 
			 Durham 66 5 63 8 
			 Essex 241 97 240 78 
			 Gloucestershire 62 50 62 41 
			 Greater Manchester 529 103 508 142 
			 Hampshire 238 149 166 148 
			 Hertfordshire 153 87 107 87 
			 Humberside 137 92 143 79 
			 Kent 220 64 200 93 
			 Lancashire 248 280 204 201 
			 Leicestershire 144 132 119 122 
			 Lincolnshire 48 12 50 16 
			 Merseyside 275 116 297 141 
			 Metropolitan Police(28) 1,504 500 1,208 458 
			 Norfolk 47 15 33 16 
			 Northamptonshire 40 43 66 59 
			 Northumbria 22 38 158 194 
			 North Yorkshire 186 197 71 52 
			 Nottinghamshire 140 108 178 125 
			 South Yorkshire 241 161 251 164 
			 Staffordshire(27) 136 110 145 118 
			 Suffolk 127 11 161 11 
			 Surrey 41 23 63 19 
			 Sussex 104 99 154 59 
			 Thames Valley 222 53 192 91 
			 Warwickshire 43 15 39 18 
			 West Mercia 134 118 109 120 
			 West Midlands 668 296 764 303 
			 West Yorkshire 558 270 386 283 
			 Wiltshire 48 7 40 11 
			  
			 Dyfed Powys 39 23 62 15 
			 Gwent 93 13 91 14 
			 North Wales 83 31 66 46 
			 South Wales 335 55 288 36 
			 England and Wales 8,175 3,797 7,531 3,783 
		
	
	(25) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(26) Includes the offence of 'Being carried knowing vehicle to have been taken or driven away'.
	(27) Staffordshire police were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates' courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter of 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures, as they are considered sufficiently robust at this level of analysis.
	(28) Includes City of London
	
		Table 1: Vehicle crime offences recorded by the police 1999–2000 to 2001–02
		
			  Theft of a vehicle Theft from a vehicle 
			 Police force area and region 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Cleveland 4,402 4,536 4,797 8,628 9,130 9,454 
			 Durham 3,605 2,951 2,712 5,521 5,096 5,086 
			 Northumbria 10,395 8,693 7,837 15,804 13,662 12,573 
			 North East Region 18,402 16,180 15,346 29,953 27,888 27,113 
			 Cheshire 4,594 4,665 4,625 7,582 7,588 8,820 
			 Cumbria 1,373 1,150 1,115 4,041 3,126 3,368 
			 Greater Manchester 42,493 37,264 31,969 45,439 43,328 42,806 
			 Lancashire 6,504 6,151 6,154 14,308 14,202 14,861 
			 Merseyside 16,775 16,157 15,081 16,960 14,220 14,901 
			 North West Region 71,739 65,387 58,944 88,330 82,464 84,756 
			 Humberside 6,812 6,033 6,501 15,068 13,382 14,843 
			 North Yorkshire 2,622 2,502 2,349 5,974 5,083 5,822 
			 South Yorkshire 11,918 8,939 8,294 17,605 17,470 20,427 
			 West Yorkshire 21,197 20,171 23,765 37,101 37,817 41,671 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 42,549 37,645 40,909 75,748 73,752 82,763 
			 Derbyshire 5,472 4,177 3,832 12,649 11,560 12,471 
			 Leicestershire 6,052 4,734 4,604 12,888 11,466 11,749 
			 Lincolnshire 1,998 1,797 1,885 4,873 4,830 4,897 
			 Northamptonshire 3,921 3,722 3,758 8,334 7,718 7,577 
			 Nottinghamshire 7,035 7,135 7,714 17,681 18,474 20,818 
			 East Midlands Region 24,478 21,565 21,793 56,425 54,048 57,512 
			 Staffordshire 6,003 5,484 5,637 11,598 10,587 12,314 
			 Warwickshire 2,519 2,246 2,118 6,102 5,184 5,899 
			 West Mercia 4,690 4,079 3,336 11,053 9,139 9,725 
			 West Midlands 33,230 27,753 25,385 43,801 39,594 38,239 
			 West Midlands Region 46,442 39,562 36,476 72,554 64,504 66,177 
			 Bedfordshire 4,531 4,114 3,873 9,911 8,478 8,852 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,596 2,975 2,941 8,847 8,373 9,804 
			 Essex 7,174 6,826 7,505 13,255 12,921 13,356 
			 Hertfordshire 3,452 3,796 3,810 9,126 11,094 10,453 
			 Norfolk 2,983 2,280 1,888 7,445 7,543 7,909 
			 Suffolk 1,742 1,765 1,693 4,759 4,526 5,222 
			 Eastern Region 23,478 21,756 21,710 53,343 52,935 55,596 
			 London, City of 212 252 380 399 412 511 
			 Metropolitan Police 62,791 62,462 62,112 112,206 105,701 112,146 
			 London Region 63,003 62,714 62,492 112,605 106,113 112,657 
			 Hampshire 7,159 6,370 6,506 16,204 15,812 15,353 
			 Kent 8,248 8,261 7,237 14,217 15,476 13,361 
			 Surrey 2,091 2,995 2,881 5,364 6,835 6,513 
			 Sussex 7,721 6,940 5,442 17,419 16,851 15,798 
			 Thames Valley 14,492 11,479 10,255 35,972 31,377 31,525 
			 South East Region 39,711 36,045 32,321 89,176 86,351 82,550 
			 Avon and Somerset 10,953 10,430 12,181 23,458 21,918 28,610 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,366 3,807 3,392 17,072 16,338 14,157 
			 Dorset 2,998 2,609 2,499 8,429 7,049 7,310 
			 Gloucestershire 2,531 1,893 1,828 7,713 6,571 6,312 
			 Wiltshire 1,615 1,346 1,267 4,983 3,925 3,997 
			 South West Region 22,463 20,085 21,167 61,655 55,801 60,386 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys 868 861 841 1,335 1,259 1,209 
			 Gwent 3,393 3,074 2,610 5,714 5,035 4,406 
			 North Wales 2,310 1,903 1,949 5,191 5,283 5,712 
			 South Wales 15,850 12,019 11,557 17,203 14,218 14,324 
			 Wales 22,421 17,857 16,957 29,443 25,795 25,651 
			 England and Wales 374,686 338,796 328,115 669,232 629,651 655,161 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Vehicle crime offences recorded by the police 2002–03 and 2003–04
		
			  Theft of a vehicle Theft from a vehicle 
			 Police force area and region 2002–03 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Cleveland 4,468 4,463 9,826 8,030 
			 Durham 2,423 2,369 5,023 4,704 
			 Northumbria 6,981 6,445 13,283 11,644 
			 North East Region 13,872 13,277 28,132 24,378 
			  
			 Cheshire 4,503 3,994 9,400 8,850 
			 Cumbria 1,244 1,060 3,509 3,054 
			 Greater Manchester 26,252 21,870 41,022 37,414 
			 Lancashire 5,585 5,231 13,289 11,468 
			 Merseyside 13,081 11,403 14,973 14,961 
			 North West Region 50,665 43,558 82,193 75,747 
			  
			 Humberside 7,607 7,619 14,881 13,810 
			 North Yorkshire 2,623 2,672 6,947 6,844 
			 South Yorkshire 10,241 9,621 20,948 19,573 
			 West Yorkshire 22,867 19,473 41,340 36,287 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 43,338 39,385 84,116 76,514 
			  
			 Derbyshire 4,062 3,571 12,730 10,787 
			 Leicestershire 4,576 3,986 11,410 10,030 
			 Lincolnshire 2,101 1,932 5,756 4,571 
			 Northamptonshire 3,817 3,642 8,051 9,069 
			 Nottinghamshire 8,782 8,014 22,227 20,303 
			 East Midlands Region 23,338 21,145 60,174 54,760 
			  
			 Staffordshire 4,463 4,209 10,094 9,576 
			 Warwickshire 2,282 2,125 6,195 5,131 
			 West Mercia 3,371 3,432 9,705 8,702 
			 West Midlands 23,598 23,217 37,240 33,894 
			 West Midlands Region 33,714 32,983 63,234 57,303 
			  
			 Bedfordshire 3,111 2,834 8,323 7,337 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,638 3,307 9,707 7,365 
			 Essex 7,664 7,283 13,906 13,757 
			 Hertfordshire 4,287 4,323 12,315 11,916 
			 Norfolk 2,288 2,173 8,451 6,223 
			 Suffolk 1,606 1,459 4,676 4,323 
			 Eastern Region 22,594 21,379 57,378 50,921 
			  
			 London, City of 334 226 360 357 
			 Metropolitan Police 58,405 55,158 114,987 103,899 
			 London Region 58,739 55,384 115,347 104,256 
			  
			 Hampshire 6,278 5,822 15,985 14,947 
			 Kent 7,138 6,749 13,676 12,492 
			 Surrey 3,110 2,947 6,879 6,973 
			 Sussex 5,992 5,313 15,116 13,463 
			 Thames Valley 9,111 8,753 28,518 26,710 
			 South East Region 31,629 29,584 80,174 74,585 
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 11,983 8,705 24,266 20,303 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,907 3,396 15,470 13,205 
			 Dorset 2,276 2,199 7,141 6,404 
			 Gloucestershire 1,977 2,264 5,763 6,143 
			 Wiltshire 1,308 1,265 4,243 4,185 
			 South West Region 21,451 17,829 56,883 50,240 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys 833 795 1,195 1,530 
			 Gwent 3,046 3,507 5,286 5,416 
			 North Wales 2,087 2,038 6,005 5,575 
			 South Wales 11,844 9,793 18,579 17,289 
			 Wales 17,810 16,133 31,065 29,810 
			  
			 England and Wales 317,150 290,657 658,696 598,514 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Wildlife Crime

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on links between wildlife crime and serious and organised crime; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit of National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) assess the links between organised wildlife crime and other areas of criminality, including money laundering, fraud, deception and distribution of drugs. That assessment by its very nature has operational and intelligence information not intended for publication.

Wildlife Crime

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) others concerning wildlife crime; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We are currently considering with ministerial colleagues in Defra the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's report published on 7 October 2004.

Xenotransplantation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis is of his understanding that a mediation process has taken place between Imutran/Novartis and Lyons/Uncaged.

Caroline Flint: The Home Office was informed by Novartis Pharma AG on 8 April 2003, by letter, that Uncaged Campaigns and Daniel Louis Lyons had agreed to submit to a permanent injunction in respect of previously published documents: Novartis also provided a sealed copy of the revised injunction referenced as Claim No. HC 0004406. We were not provided with the terms of the settlement agreement, which we were told were confidential. Novartis later informed Home Office officials, by telephone, that the settlement had been reached following mediation, the details of which were also confidential and not divulged to the Home Office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Council

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the new Chairman of the British Council was appointed following an open competition; whether a recruitment or executive search firm was used in the process; and how many candidates were shortlisted.

Chris Mullin: The new Chairman of the British Council was appointed after an open competition. The Post was advertised on the British Council website and in national newspapers. An Appointments Panel was set up to run the recruitment process. Odgers, Ray and Berndston, search consultants, were employed by the British Council to provide support to the Panel. The Panel included an Independent Assessor who ensured that the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments was followed throughout. Four candidates were shortlisted for interview.

British Council

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what annual remuneration and expenses will be available to the chairman of the British Council in the next year.

Chris Mullin: The post of chairman of the British Council is unremunerated. The chairman will receive actual travel and accommodation expenses incurred on official council business both in the UK and overseas. The chairman's travel plans for 2005 are yet to be decided. However, the British Council estimate he will make four overseas trips. The British Council will write to the hon. Member with these costs once they are known.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what creche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides nursery facilities at King Charles Street in London and at Hanslope Park in Milton Keynes. The annual net cost borne by the FCO is £125,985.
	The annual costs for the King Charles Street nursery are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Management contract fee 232,024 
			 Capital costs 21,800 
			 Business rates 16,890 
		
	
	Utility and service costs are not billed separately; this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	These costs are offset by parental contributions of £144,322 and an education grant of £2,832.
	The annual net cost of the King Charles Street nursery is therefore £123,560.
	The annual identifiable costs for the Hanslope Park nursery are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Capital costs 1,223 
			 Business rates 1,202 
		
	
	All other costs are met by the parents. Utility and service costs are not billed separately; this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The annual net cost of the Hanslope Park nursery is therefore £2,425.
	In each case, capital costs and business rates are calculated on a pro rata basis according to the amount of space occupied by the nurseries.
	The FCO is an employer partner in the Buffer Bear network of nurseries, with access to five priority places on the waiting list. The cost of a place varies depending on, among other things, the location of the nursery. Staff are offered a subsidy of between £24 and £45 per week, depending on their grade and the age of the child. The projected subsidy for 2004–05 is £1,300.
	Staff are also eligible to use the Westminster Holiday Playscheme, which caters for 4 to12-year-olds during school holidays, at three sites in central London. The cost is £30 per day, which is split equally between the FCO and the parent. The subsidy for 2004–05 will be in the region of £3,500.

European Anti-Fraud Office

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the 2004 annual report by the European Anti-Fraud Office.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government will consider this report in the light of other recent documents and proposals concerning the European Anti-Fraud Office.

Extradition

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is regarding UK nationals detained abroad being extradited or transferred to a third country which may inflict the death penalty.

Jack Straw: holding answer 6 December 2004
	The UK Parliament and Government are opposed to the use of the death penalty anywhere in the world. We would never acquiesce nor facilitate the extradition or transfer of a UK national from one third country to another in circumstances where the national concerned might face the death penalty. We would always make representations on behalf of the national.

Freedom of Information

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of those documents held by his Department that (a) may be disclosed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (b) have been destroyed within the preceding four months, that pertain to (i) the European constitution and (ii) the criteria for acceding to the euro.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) holds a large number of documents, any of which may be potentially disclosable in response to access requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which comes into force on 1 January 2005. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and information will be released if it is in the public interest to do so.
	Documents already published on the "Britain and the EU" section of the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk, include the White Paper on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (Cm 6309) and the final treaty text (Cm 6429). There is also comprehensive material on what the EU constitutional treaty means for the EU's policies and institutions.
	No documents pertaining to (i) the EU constitutional treaty or (ii) the criteria for acceding to the euro have been destroyed within the last four months, other than ephemeral or duplicate material, which is routinely destroyed in accordance with standard records practice. Information about individual documents routinely destroyed is not held by the FCO.

Iraq

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the interim administration in Iraq on the Chaldo-Assyrian Christian community; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Rammell), gave my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice), on 17 November 2004, Official Report, column 1552W.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Pakistan concerning the use of the military and police there to train Iraqi recruits.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the matter of training of the Iraqi Security Forces at a meeting with President Musharraf on 6 December at which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was present. They noted the requirement for continuous training of Iraqi Security Forces.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities concerning house demolitions in Anata, Jerusalem and East Jerusalem.

Douglas Alexander: British Embassy Officials in Tel Aviv raise the issue of house demolitions with the Israeli authorities on a regular basis. We have not made any specific representations recently on Anata and East Jerusalem. However, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, in a meeting with Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom on 24 November, raised the broader issue of disproportionate retaliation by the Israel Defence Forces in response to the terrorist threat.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking at the (a) UN and (b) EU in relation to Israeli (i) house demolition activity and (ii) settlement building.

Douglas Alexander: On 24 November in the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York, the UK, with all EU partners, voted in favour of a resolution on "Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people", which covered house demolitions and settlements. We also voted in favour of a resolution on 'Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories'.
	Where we have concerns over Israeli actions on human rights we raise these with the Israeli government both bilaterally and through the EU. At the 11 October General Affairs and External Relations Council EU Foreign Ministers condemned "the disproportionate nature of the Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip". The EU has also regularly raised issues of concern, including human rights, at EU/Israel Association Councils. The UK and the EU continue to press the Israeli Government to implement its Roadmap commitments on settlements.

Israel

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the (a) Israeli Government and (b) European Union on destruction by Israeli military forces of police stations in the Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: British embassy officials in Tel Aviv regularly stress the need to allow Palestinian Authority security forces to operate effectively. We have not had any discussions recently on the specific issue of destruction by the Israeli military forces of Palestinian police stations in the Occupied Territories.

Israel

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities on the recent judgments concerning the legality of the security wall.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply the Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Rammell), gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies) on 14 December 2004 (UIN 202938).

Liberia/Cote d'Ivoire

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and Burkina Faso regarding the use of border areas by rebel militia from Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.

Chris Mullin: An Foreign and Commonwealth Office official met the Burkinabe ambassador to London on 10 November, and stressed the need for all Côte d'Ivoire's neighbours to help the international community's efforts to reach a peaceful solution in Côte d'Ivoire, and not to support any military action including by the rebels. We have not discussed the Liberian rebels.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Israeli Government and (b) the Palestinian Authority regarding the Palestinian elections.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Palestinian elections extensively with both the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority (PA) during his visit to the region on 24–25 November. The Foreign Secretary was encouraged to find the Palestinian Central Election Commission focused on the challenge of preparing for the Presidential elections on 9 January and working in accordance with the Basic Law. He welcomed Israel's commitment to facilitating the election process, including allowing the necessary freedom of movement of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, to enable elections to take place. The UK is supporting the election process through the EU, which is providing material and technical support as well as an observer mission.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made of the effect the new Security Wall route will have on the living conditions of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Douglas Alexander: We note that the new route of the security barrier is intended to reduce the humanitarian damage to Palestinians. 100,000 dunams (25,000 acres) of Palestinian land in the area of the Jerusalem corridor will no longer be enclosed. In addition, the Palestinian residents of the communities of Beit Suriq, Bidu, Beit Anan and Qatana will not be separated from their agricultural land. We do however remain concerned about the impact of the barrier on many thousands of Palestinians, particularly in and around Jerusalem.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage discussions between the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority on withdrawal from Gaza.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed to both sides, during his visit to the region on 24–25 November, the UK's belief that disengagement will deliver better results if it is co-ordinated between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). We support renewed high-level contacts and dialogue between Israel and the PA.
	Israeli Prime Minister Sharon has said that he will co-ordinate disengagement with the new Palestinian government. Both Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) have recently expressed optimism over the prospect of new high level contacts.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to ensure successful Palestinian elections on 9 January 2005.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 14 December 2004
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1521–22.

Russell Christopher Anderson

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is giving to the family of Russell Christopher Anderson of Birmingham in their efforts (a) to discover the full circumstances of his death in Rhodes on 30 August 2003 and (b) to persuade the Greek authorities to return his body parts to the family or to account for parts they are not able to return.

Chris Mullin: Russell Anderson died in Faliraki, Rhodes on 20 August 2003. British Embassy Officials in Athens have closely monitored developments and provided regular updates to Mr. Anderson's family as the case progressed. We raised Mr. Anderson's case with the Greek authorities on a number of occasions during the investigation. The authorities have now completed their inquiries into the circumstances of his death and concluded that he died of natural causes.
	Consular staff in Athens have confirmed with the local coroner's office that they continue to hold parts of Mr. Anderson's organs. Under Greek procedures, any request for the return of organs must be made by an International Funeral Director to the Greek authorities. We have explained this to Mr. Anderson's family, who now need to appoint a representative from such a firm to take this forward.

Russell Christopher Anderson

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Greek authorities regarding the case of the late Russell Christopher Anderson of Birmingham.

Chris Mullin: British embassy officials in Athens have closely monitored developments in Mr. Anderson's case, and provided his family with all the consular assistance they properly can.
	We have raised Mr. Anderson's case with the Greek authorities on a number of occasions. This has allowed our consular staff to provide Mr. Anderson's family with regular updates as the case progressed.

Saudi Arabia

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is offering to the Government of Saudi Arabia to assist with reforms to governance and stability in the region.

Douglas Alexander: The UK actively supports Saudi Arabia's efforts on reforms to governance and stability in the region. We have regular discussions on such matters at all levels of the Saudi government and Majlis Council. Through the Global Opportunities Fund, we are providing more than £300,000 in this financial year towards projects concerning Saudi Arabia on such issues. In addition, we contribute to regional projects focused on reforming governance and increasing stability in the region. We are also working with others to support regional development, including through the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative and the EU Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the recent monthly briefing to the Security Council by its Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sudan, with particular reference to attacks on civilians by the different rebal armies and the Janjaweed in Darfur;
	(2)  what plans he has to address the issues raised in the recent briefings given to the Security Council on the issue of Sudan, by direct representation to the Government of Sudan.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 14 December 2004
	We are gravely concerned by the latest report by the UN Secretary-General which notes that the security situation deteriorated towards the end of November, with increased clashes between Government of Sudan forces and the rebels resulting in many police and civilian deaths. The report notes that "The SLM/A has aggressively violated its commitment to the Abuja protocols, and if the Government fails to show restraint in the face of provocation by the SLM/A, insecurity could worsen substantially".
	We have, and will continue to make clear, to both the Government of Sudan and the rebel factions that they must respect the ceasefire and fulfil their commitments under the Abuja Humanitarian and Security Protocols. They must immediately take all steps to prevent attacks, threats, intimidation and any other form of violence against civilians by any party or group.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan to improve access to Darfur for Amnesty International and other international human rights non-governmental organisations.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 14 December 2004
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this matter during his visit to Sudan in August, and secured entry visas for Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
	We hold regular discussions about the need to improve access to Darfur for all non-governmental agencies with the Government of Sudan. Most recently I raised the need to improve access to Darfur for NGOs with the State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs on 6 December.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he will be making to the Sudanese authorities concerning the attack by Janjaweed militias on eight women and girls from Derajj Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Nyala in Darfur on 2December.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 14 December 2004
	We have made clear to all sides that attacks on civilians are completely unacceptable and must stop. The British Ambassador to Khartoum visited Nyala on 1 December and raised incidents of rape with both the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights monitors and the Government of Sudan. We, together with our EU partners, have made clear that the perpetrators of such crimes must be brought to justice. We are supporting the deployment of the expanded African Union mission, providing over £14 million in funding and have already provided £250,000 towards the deployment of UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights monitors.

Terrorist Organisations

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) contacts and (b) soundings and impressions conveyed between the High Representative and (i) Hamas and (ii) other organisations on the EU list of terrorist organisations were discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting held on 22 and 23 November; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 14 December 2004
	These issues were not discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 22–23 November.

Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) delivers annually over 200 different types of training courses, worldwide. In addition, the FCO provides staff with opportunities for IT and language training. Some courses are organised, run and paid for by our posts around the world. There is no central record of training courses, location and costs; that information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial penalties were paid in each financial year since 1997–98 to training providers by the Department for training courses prepared for its staff but which were subsequently cancelled at the Department's request.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) delivers annually over 200 different types of training courses, world-wide. This does not include IT or language training.
	Cancellation of training is rare. There is no central record of financial penalties paid to external providers of training; this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, all training contracts contain a clause which allows the FCO to cancel training 50 days in advance of the course date without incurring financial penalties.

PRIME MINISTER

AIDS

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his planned programme of activities to address AIDS in Africa under UK presidency of the G8 states.

Tony Blair: We will have a number of opportunities next year to use our leadership during the G8 and EU Presidencies to achieve more global action and funding for AIDS.

Constituent Information (Party Political Use)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that information contained in letters from constituents forwarded by hon. Members to Government Departments is not stored on databases for party political uses.

Tony Blair: Letters from constituents forwarded by hon. Members of Parliament to Government Departments are handled in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister whether his special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Ruth Kelly), on 14 December 2004.

UN Declaration for Indigenous People's Rights

Sarah Teather: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from Commonwealth governments regarding the proposed Draft UN Declaration for Indigenous People's Rights.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, I have not received any representations from, or had any with, Commonwealth Governments on this issue.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Census Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Department has to introduce an 80-year closure period for census records; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if the Secretary of State will allow family historians access to the personal records from the (a) 1911 and (b) 1921 Census;

Christopher Leslie: It is Government policy that all decennial returns, which contain personally sensitive information supplied in confidence, should remain closed for 100 years. It is very important that public confidence is maintained in the confidentiality assurances given by the Government to citizens when they are required to complete their census forms.
	It would, therefore, be inappropriate to introduce an earlier closure period.

Census Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Advisory Council on Public Records on the closure period for census details.

Christopher Leslie: I have had no discussions with the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council on National Records and Archives concerning the closure period for census records. The council considered the matter in 1998 and 2003 and on both occasions concluded that a reduction in the closure period from 100 years would amount to a breach of confidence.

Census Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent representations he has received about reducing the closure period for census records.

Christopher Leslie: Since January 2004, there have been seven written parliamentary questions on the closure period for census records. In addition, DCA Ministers have responded to 147 letters from MPs conveying the views of constituents on this subject.

Census Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate he has made of the expected revenue that would be generated from a release of the (a) 1911 and (b) 1921 census online before their scheduled release dates.

Christopher Leslie: I refer to the answer that my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 529W.

Freedom of Information Act

Robert Key: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he will publish the draft statutory instrument on the charging regime for museums and other organisations in respect of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Christopher Leslie: The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 were laid before Parliament on 9 December. These Regulations are subject to the negative resolution procedure, and will come into force on 1 January 2005.
	They make provision for the charging regime which will apply to all public authorities, including museums, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Domestic Violence

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many defendants to allegations of domestic violence in the criminal courts have been allowed personally to cross-examine the complainant in (a) England and Wales, (b) Cleveland Magistrates' Court and (c) Teesside Crown Court in 2004.

Christopher Leslie: The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 provides protection to complainants in cases involving sexual offences, to child complainants and other child witnesses from cross examination by the defendant themselves under sections 34 and 35. Section 36 allows the court to make a direction prohibiting the defendant from cross-examination of a particular witness in person if the quality of the evidence would be diminished in that circumstance or improved by making such a direction. Information relating to how many cases where a defendant has conducted cross- examination in person in England and Wales is not held centrally and to identify each case would incur disproportionate cost. Both Cleveland and Magistrates' Court and Teeside Crown Court have confirmed that they are not.

Principal Registry (Family Division)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many full days are available for hearings in the Principal Registry of the Family Division before 1 July 2005.

Christopher Leslie: Between 6 December 2004 and 1 July 2005, 3,466 full sitting days are available for hearings in the Principal Registry of the Family Division (Circuit and District Judge appointments). Of these days 131 full day appointment slots for one-day cases were available. In the Family Division of the High Court (High Court Judges) there are 1,346 full sitting days available over the same period. Of these 71 full day appointment slots for one day cases were available.

Principal Registry (Family Division)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the first day known to be available for a full day hearing in the Principal Registry of the Family Division was on Monday 6 December.

Christopher Leslie: The first day available for a full day hearing in the Principal Registry of the Family Division, on Monday 6 December 2004 was 18 April 2005. In the Family Division of the High Court the first available date for a full day hearing was 28 February 2005. Although these are the first available dates, Lists are structured to leave capacity to accommodate cases, which the judiciary identify as requiring urgent appointments. Also, Lists change as circumstances in individual cases change.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997.

Christopher Leslie: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of official Departmental Christmas cards included a contribution to charity in their cost; and which charities benefited from such a contribution.

Ian Pearson: Seventy nine per cent. of Northern Ireland Office Departmental and Ministerial Christmas cards included a contribution to Charity. The charities that benefited were The Northern Ireland Hospice, Unicef and The Samaritans.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the cost of postage was for official Departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004;
	(2)  what the cost of postage was for official Departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Ian Pearson: Northern Ireland Office Christmas cards are distributed using either the normal postal system or using an internal government courier service that transports documents between the various government and public service buildings in Northern Ireland. A record is not maintained of which cards are posted in the normal way and which cards are distributed though the courier. It is therefore not possible to supply the postage costs for either of the years requested.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many official Christmas cards were sent out by his Department in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Office bought 6,130 Christmas cards for Christmas 2003 and 5,701 for Christmas 2004. A record of the number actually sent is not kept but it is thought that it would not vary greatly from the number bought.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the eleven departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Counterfeiting

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the involvement of paramilitaries in counterfeiting.

Ian Pearson: The Organised Crime Task Force has carried out detailed analysis of the scale of paramilitary involvement in counterfeiting and piracy and its assessment is that paramilitary gangs carry out 80 per cent. of organised intellectual property crime in Northern Ireland, with loyalist and republican gangs equally heavily involved. The Independent Monitoring Commission's report of 4 November 2004 also highlights paramilitary involvement in this form of criminality.
	This year the Police Service of Northern Ireland have seized £4.595 million of counterfeit goods and I pay tribute to the PSNI for their ongoing efforts to tackle organised criminals who seek to line their pockets from the sale of illicit goods.

Creche Facilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost.

Ian Pearson: Although the Northern Ireland Office does not provide crèche facilities for its staff, it does provide assistance with the cost of child care to staff with pre-school aged children. The Department and its agencies are currently assisting 138 staff at an annual cost of £129,000.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 Northern Ireland Departments.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by his Department in each of the last two years.

Ian Pearson: The cost to the Northern Ireland Office of providing in-house canteen services was £24,614.52 in 2002–03 and £19,596.92 in 2003–04. We are unable provide the cost of other catering services to the Department as we are unable to isolate these costs from our expenditure on other related domestic and cleaning items.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the cost of building refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last two years.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is not held separately and could be extracted from our records only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years.

Ian Pearson: In relation to the cost of ministerial cars for the 2002–03 year I would refer to the response given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 397–98W. A letter was deposited in the Library in relation to this response which gave the cost of ministerial cars for Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Ministers while in mainland Great Britain. The cost of ministerial cars for NIO Ministers while in Northern Ireland cannot be extracted from other costs relating to the security and protection of Ministers.
	In relation to ministerial cars for the 2003–04 year. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the cost of ministerial vehicles provided to his Department in 2003–04. This correspondence will include details on the cost of cars for Northern Ireland Office Ministers while in mainland GB. Again, the cost of ministerial cars for NIO Ministers while in Northern Ireland for 2003–03 cannot be extracted from other costs relating to the security and protection of Ministers.
	The costs of taxis booked using the Northern Ireland Office's travel booking service were £21,919.80 in 2002–03 and £13,954.12 in 2003–04. These figures do not include the costs of taxis used by staff for official purposes, the cost of which is recovered from the Department by way of expense claims.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Departmental Properties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years.

Ian Pearson: The information the hon. Member has requested for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), its agencies, and other bodies for which it is responsible is detailed as follows.
	
		
			  Northern Ireland Office (£) Northern Ireland Office agencies (£) Other public bodies for which NIO is responsible 
		
		
			 2002–03
			 Annual cost 4,335 150,000 0 
			 Value 264,000 (29)23,000,000 0 
			 
			 2003–04
			 Annual cost 1,964 165,794 0 
			 Value 145,000 (29)23,400,000 0 
		
	
	(29) The site of the former Maze prison, valued at £23,000,000 was transferred to the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland with effect from 31 March 2004.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Early Release Prisoners

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance was provided to prisoners released under the early release scheme to reintegrate themselves into the community and find employment; and what the largest amount is of state benefits being paid on a weekly basis to a former early release prisoner in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Prisoners scheduled for early release, under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, may not have had the opportunity to make adequate preparation for their successful reintegration into the community. In recognition of this, Prisoner Welfare organisations, who received EU funding, were involved in conducting an analysis of the training needs of those prisoners eligible for early release. Training courses in pre-employment, business planning and social skills development were identified as being the most appropriate courses and these were provided at HMP Maze, by individuals and professional community based training organisations.
	Special provision was made to permit early release prisoners to submit applications to the Training and Employment Agency prior to their release from Prison.
	On release, the maximum discharge grant available to a person released from prison in 1999 amounted to £103.81. In this respect special provision was not made to early release prisoners.
	When former prisoners wish to claim benefit they must declare the fact that they have been in prison in order to establish a date from which to claim.

Gender Pay Gap

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the gender pay gap amongst staff in his Department.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Office completed an Equal Pay Report and Action Plan in August 2003. The Project Board were satisfied that there was no gender discrimination at present concerning pay in the NIO.
	A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House.

Gym Provision

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many gyms are available to the staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland provides three gyms for use by its staff. The cost of running these gyms in the 2003–04 year was £6,236.63. This figure does not include such costs as heating, lighting or cleaning, as these cannot be isolated from the total costs of these items for each buildings in which the gyms are housed.
	Northern Ireland Office staff are also able to use gyms provided by the departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Knockmore Hill Industrial Estate

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses are located at the Knockmore Hill Industrial Estate in Lisburn; and how many new jobs have been created on the site since it was opened.

Barry Gardiner: Since the establishment of Knockmore Hill Industrial Estate in June 2000, six businesses have located their premises on the site. These businesses employed a total of 336 employees at 31 March 2004 (of these, 99 jobs have been created after the businesses moved to the site). In addition there are a further four businesses that have bought sites on the Knockmore Hill Industrial estate.

Northern Ireland Police Fund

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing Recommendation 18 of the Review of the Northern Ireland Police Fund on compiling a database of police widows, disabled police officers and their families.

Ian Pearson: I have been informed by the Northern Ireland Police Fund that it has investigated the potential to establish a database of police widows, disabled police officers and their families. While the Fund itself has a significant database of its clients, the restrictions of the Data Protection legislation has made it difficult to obtain information from other associated bodies which is necessary to enable the Fund to compile a complete database of all police widows, disabled officers and ex officers and their families. The Fund continues to keep the position under review and will extend the database if and when this is found possible.

Northern Ireland Police Fund

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial resources will be available to the Police Fund over the next three years.

Ian Pearson: The allocation of the Police Fund's financial resources for the next three years has not yet been confirmed. We would hope that this will be done shortly.

Northern Ireland Police Fund

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to conduct a study to forecast the future requirements, services and care needs of police widows, disabled police officers and their families; what resources will be available to this study; and who will conduct it.

Ian Pearson: I have been advised by the Northern Ireland Police Fund that prior to the review of the Fund by John Steele it had proposed a study into the current and future needs of police widows, disabled officers and ex officers and their families. The requirement for this study was emphasised in the report completed by John Steele. Funding is available from within the Northern Ireland Police Fund budget for this work.
	The Northern Ireland Police Fund is currently tendering for this work which will be undertaken early in 2005.

Police Service

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average response time has been from a call on the emergency number to attendance by a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer at an incident in East Belfast, using the most recent available figures.

Ian Pearson: The information is set out in the table for the period 28 October to 28 November 2004.
	
		
			 PSNI Station Incidents/Calls Average Response Times 
		
		
			 Strandtown 1,063 7 minutes 53 seconds 
			 Mountpottinger 358 8 minutes 13 seconds 
			 Willowfield 471 8 minutes 38 seconds 
		
	
	The PSNI give a high priority to emergency calls for police assistance and respond as quickly as possible however on occasions where a crew has two or more calls on their list it is necessary to prioritise attendance at incidents.

Protocol

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) diplomatic and (b) formal protocols were observed during the visit of the President of Ireland to St. Joseph's Primary School, Bessbrook, Co. Armagh on 26 November.

Paul Murphy: When President McAleese visited St. Joseph's Primary School on 26 November 2004 she was greeted by one of the Deputy Lieutenants for Co. Armagh in the absence of the Lord-Lieutenant.

Rural Development Council

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what 
	(1)  (a) criteria and (b) procedures are used by the Rural Development Council to assess an application for grant;
	(2)  what grants have been received from the Rural Development Council in each Northern Ireland constituency since it's formation; and for what projects;
	(3)  how many applications for grants were received by the Rural Development Council in each of the last three years;
	(4)  what the average length of time taken by the Rural Development Council to respond to a grant application was in the last 12 months;
	(5)  what projects have been supported by the Rural Development Council aimed at (a) supporting farmers or farm families and (b) promoting alternative skills training in East Antrim in (i) Newtownabbey, (ii) Carrickfergus and (iii) Larne borough council areas in each of the last three years; and how much grant was awarded in each case.

Ian Pearson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Rural Development Council to write to the hon. Gentleman on these matters.

Warm Homes Scheme

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list contractors working for the Department of Social Development's Warm Homes Scheme in each of the 18 Westminster constituencies; and how many contractors are working on such schemes in each constituency.

John Spellar: The answer is given in the following table:
	
		Contractors working for DSD's warm homes scheme
		
			 Constituency: No of contractors Name of contractors 
		
		
			 Belfast North 7 DCI 
			   MPI 
			   George Nelson 
			   Spectrum Premier Services 
			   Thompson P and H 
			   Keenan Heating 
			   Select Services 
			 Belfast South 8 Instafibre 
			   MPI 
			   Energystore 
			   DCI 
			   George Nelson 
			   Thompson P and H 
			   Keenan Heating 
			   Select Services 
			 Belfast East 7 Instafibre 
			   MPI 
			   Spectrum Premier Services 
			   George Nelson 
			   Thompson P and H 
			   Keenan Heating 
			   Select Services 
			
			 Belfast West 6 DCI 
			   MPI 
			   George Nelson 
			   Thompson P and H 
			   Keenan Heating 
			   Select Services 
			
			 East Antrim 6 DCI 
			   MPI 
			   George Nelson 
			   Felim Quigg 
			   O'Kane's 
			   Keenan Heating 
			
			 East Londonderry 7 Cosyhome 
			   Homeseal 
			   HGS 
			   T J McConnell 
			   Felim Quigg 
			   O'Kane's 
			   Keenan Heating 
			
			 Lagan Valley 4 Energystore 
			   DCI 
			   George Nelson 
			   Bayview 
			
			 Mid Ulster 9 Homewarm 
			   Instafibre 
			   Cosyhome 
			   Homeseal 
			   HGS 
			   K J Porter 
			   Felim Quigg 
			   JMC 
			   O'Kane's 
			
			 Foyle 5 Cosyhome 
			   Homeseal 
			   T J McConnell 
			   O'Kane's 
			   M McGonigle 
			
			 Fermanagh and 6 Homewarm 
			 South Tyrone  Instafibre 
			   George Nelson 
			   HGS 
			   K J Porter 
			   O'Kane's 
			
			 Newry and Armagh 7 Homewarm 
			   Instafibre 
			   Energystore 
			   DCI 
			   HGS 
			   Bayview 
			   George Nelson 
			
			 North Antrim 8 Cosyhome 
			   Homeseal 
			   DCI 
			   MPI 
			   HGS 
			   T J McConnell 
			   Felim Quigg 
			   Keenan Heating 
			
			 North Down 4 Instafibre 
			   MPI 
			   George Nelson 
			   DMC Contracts 
			
			 South Antrim 5 DCI 
			   MPI 
			   HGS 
			   Keenan Heating 
			   George Nelson 
			
			 South Down 5 Instafibre 
			   MPI 
			   Energystore 
			   DCI 
			   George Nelson 
			
			 Strangford 3 Instafibre 
			   MPI 
			   Bayview 
			
			 Upper Bann 7 Homewarm 
			   Instafibre 
			   Energystore 
			   DCI 
			   K J Porter 
			   Bayview 
			   O'Kane's 
			
			 West Tyrone 8 Homewarm 
			   Instafibre 
			   Cosyhome 
			   Homeseal 
			   HGS 
			   T J Patterson 
			   T J McConnell 
			   K J Porter

Schools (Asbestos)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many secondary schools in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland have been identified as having classrooms and other public areas containing asbestos; and what steps he is taking to ensure it is removed.

Barry Gardiner: The following table shows the number of secondary schools in each board area where asbestos in classrooms and other public areas has been identified to date. The programme of surveys has yet to be completed in the Belfast and the North-Eastern education and library boards. board
	
		Secondary Schools
		
			 Board Number of schools where asbestos has been identified Number of schools that still have to be surveyed 
		
		
			 BELB 25 12 
			 WELB 49 0 
			 NEELB 16 16 
			 SEELB 35 0 
			 SELB 13 0 
		
	
	The Department of Education made £4.5 million available in 2003–04 to enable boards to carry out surveys of all schools and prepare for the introduction of the new asbestos regulations. In addition, £3.8 million has been allocated in the 2004–05 financial year towards removal, decontamination work or repair/remedial work, where this is necessary. It is only necessary to remove the asbestos if it in poor condition or at risk of being disturbed, otherwise the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) advice is to leave it in place and manage the risk.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004;
	(2)  if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Paul Murphy: None.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997.

Paul Murphy: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

Travel Costs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total travel costs to his Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) Special Advisers and (c) what the travel costs for officials in all NI Departments and their Agencies including the NIO each year since 1997.

Paul Murphy: The travel costs for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its Agencies but not its NDPBs, analysed by Ministers and Special Advisers is only available from 2000–01. The costs are as follows.
	
		
			  2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01 
		
		
			 (a) Ministers 1,245,512 1,051,504 847,426 842,177 
			 (b) Special Advisers 37,101 22,656 27,762 1,822 
			 Total travel cost 1,282,613 1,074,160 875,188 843,999 
		
	
	For travel costs for officials in all NI Departments and their Agencies, including the NIO, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 8 September 2004, Official Report, column 1322W.
	The travel costs for Special Advisers during 2000–01 were low as there were none in post for a large part of this fiscal year.
	The increase in Minister's travel costs from 2001–02 to 2002–03 result from an increase in the number of NIO Ministers due to the suspension of the devolved administration and the re-introduction of Direct Rule.